Joil Industrial adopts robot automation, shifts to EV parts

Workforce grows from 97 in 2022 to 133 this year, up 37% in 4 years

Company plans to hire about 40 more by 2030

Kim Young-hoon: "Support needed so mid-career skills combine with new technology"

[Courtesy of the Ministry of Employment and Labor]
[Courtesy of the Ministry of Employment and Labor]

An auto parts small and medium-sized enterprise has increased its workforce by 37 percent over four years even as it automated production and shifted toward future mobility components.

Amid growing concern that the spread of AI and robots could shrink manufacturing jobs, the government plans to support both the retraining of existing skilled workers and the creation of new jobs as industries undergo transformation.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Minister Kim Young-hoon visited Joil Industrial, an auto parts maker in Buk-gu, Ulsan, on Friday. He examined the company's process automation and shift toward future vehicle production, and held a meeting with labor and management representatives. Joil Industrial has introduced robot automation into production processes such as pressing and welding since 2007, boosting productivity and quality competitiveness. More recently, the company has expanded into electric vehicle battery pack cases.

Employment actually grew through the automation and business transition.

Joil Industrial's workforce rose from 97 employees in 2022 to 108 in 2023, 122 in 2024 and 128 last year. It reached 133 this September — a 37 percent increase over four years. The company has advanced its production processes through robot automation in pressing, welding and sealing, along with an automated mold storage warehouse. It has also expanded into electric vehicle battery pack cases as a new business line. It plans to hire about 40 more workers by 2030.

The meeting that day included mid-career skilled workers who had worked in internal combustion engine parts processes, who shared their experiences transitioning to new roles amid the industrial shift. Labor and management at Joil Industrial identified job transitions for skilled workers and the need to secure AI specialists as key challenges in the industrial shift. They also cited establishing safety standards suited to new equipment. The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency also explained the status of and support measures for the shift to future vehicles among auto parts suppliers in the Ulsan region.

The government plans to strengthen support for job transitions and workforce training among current employees so that automation and industrial transformation do not lead to job losses. This is especially true in the auto parts industry, where production is rapidly shifting from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. Helping existing mid-career skilled workers adapt to new production processes is considered a key task for maintaining employment stability.

"The center of industrial transition should be people, not technology," Kim said. "Joil Industrial actually increased employment while shifting to process automation and future vehicle business. This shows industrial transition can become a process that grows jobs, depending on how labor and management respond."

He added, "We will strengthen support so that industrial transition provides new jobs for young people while also allowing the skills of experienced mid-career workers to continue shining by combining with new technology."


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