According to the test-taker statistics published by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea on September 30, forklift operator craftsman was the most preferred craftsman-level qualification among test takers.
Beauty artist ranked first among those in their 10s, but forklift operator craftsman ranked first among every age group from their 20s through those aged 60 and older.
It is important to note that these results come from a survey of people who actually took last year’s written National Technical Qualification examinations, not from the number of certificate holders.
Three-line summary
1. Forklift operation was the most preferred craftsman-level qualification
2. Only those in their 10s preferred beauty artistry the most
3. Preference and employment outcomes must be distinguished
Craftsman-level test takers accounted for more than half of the 185만여 people surveyed
In its 2026 basic statistics on National Technical Qualification test takers, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea surveyed 185만6,264명 (185만6264명) who actually took last year’s written National Technical Qualification examinations. Craftsman-level examination takers accounted for the largest share at 52.7%, followed by engineers at 29.5% and industrial engineers at 12.3%.
The purpose of obtaining a qualification with the highest proportion was employment, at 38.5%. Self-development accounted for 25.8%, while improving work performance accounted for 12.6%. This is why interest in craftsman-level qualifications is difficult to view simply as a hobby or the choice of a single generation.
However, these figures show which fields respondents who took the examination preferred. They do not mean that obtaining a specific qualification directly leads to employment or income.
Forklift operation ranked first among employees, job seekers, and the self-employed
Among craftsman-level qualifications, forklift operator craftsman ranked first in preference among every age group except those in their 10s. Those in their 10s preferred beauty artist the most. The fact that the same field ranked first from the 20s through those aged 60 and older contrasts with the engineer level, where preferences were relatively distinct by age group.
The results were similar by economic activity status. Employees, self-employed people, and job seekers all selected forklift operator craftsman as their most preferred craftsman-level qualification. In the preference rankings among employees, electrical craftsman, excavator operator craftsman, and Korean cuisine cook craftsman followed. Among job seekers, electrical craftsman, Korean cuisine cook craftsman, baker craftsman, and confectioner craftsman followed.
Forklifts are equipment used to lift and move cargo, and are utilized in warehouses, construction sites, and logistics and transportation facilities. A notable point from this survey is that preference for this craftsman-level qualification was high regardless of age group or economic activity status.
Engineer-level qualifications varied by age group
Unlike the craftsman level, preferred fields at the engineer level differed by age. Those in their 10s and 20s preferred information processing engineer, those in their 30s and 40s preferred industrial safety engineer, and those in their 50s and those aged 60 and older preferred electrical engineer.
Even within the same National Technical Qualification system, the fields test takers considered varied according to qualification level, age, and economic activity status. Forklift operator craftsman ranking first reflects broad preference in the survey, but when individuals choose a qualification, they need to consider their own work experience and goals together.
Reference
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