327 SMEs Dedicated to Talent Development Announced

The Ministry of Startups and SMEs (MSS) announced on the 5th that it has designated 327 companies as this year’s "Talent Development-Oriented SMEs." These companies are exemplary firms that increase productivity and profitability through investments in talent, such as education and training, and reward their employees with those results, allowing both the company and the workers to grow together.

This year, the MSS improved the evaluation process by shifting from assessing average years of continuous service by workforce size to evaluating based on the company's years of operation. This change increased the selection rate of startups actively engaging in talent development. Additionally, the ministry clarified the criteria for on-site evaluations—which were previously qualitative—by specifying indicators related to human resource development.

Efforts were also made to discover eligible companies through promotions on portal sites. As a result, the number of designated companies this year increased by nearly 20% compared to last year (273 companies).

Designated companies receive preferential treatment in MSS support programs, including technology development, exports, and designation as military service-designated firms. They also benefit from recruitment support through dedicated hiring halls on employment platforms.

Park Jong-chan, Director of SME Policy at the MSS, stated, "We will discover more exemplary companies that grow with their employees to improve the perception of SMEs and spread a 'culture of SMEs where people want to work,' thereby contributing to solving job issues in the sector."

■ List of Talent Development-Oriented SMEs (Excerpt) RESPACE Co., Ltd. Original Article: https://www.hankyung.com/article/202310057549i