For the first time on record, South Korea has more construction engineers in their 60s or older than in their 40s — a demographic milestone that underscores the deepening talent crisis in one of the country’s core industries.
Construction engineers — professionals trained in architecture, civil, mechanical or electrical engineering, and certified to work across project design, management and on-site operations — are aging rapidly, with younger entrants declining.
As of February 2025, 26.8 percent of South Korea’s 1.03 million construction engineers were over 60, according to the Construction Engineer Policy Institute of Korea. That amounts to 277,432 individuals — nearly 19,000 more than the 258,143 in their 40s, who now account for just 24.9 percent of the workforce.
The shift has accelerated in recent months. Since December, the number of engineers in their 60s rose by about 26,600, while those in their 40s fell by 16,600 — a reversal that highlights the mounting strain on the sector’s talent pipeline.
As recently as 2020, engineers in their 40s (nearly 300,000) outnumbered those over 60 by two to one. That balance has flipped in just five years.
The average age of a construction engineer in South Korea is now 52.2 — up from 37.5 in 2004.
Experts attribute the shift to a prolonged construction slump, which has pushed many workers in their 30s and 40s — especially those with transferable skills — into other fields. At the same time, fewer young people are entering the profession.
“The market downturn that began in 2023 prompted a noticeable outflow of workers in their 30s and 40s,” said an official at a local construction firm with an engineering license. “Many have moved into sectors that offer more stability.”
The Construction Engineer Policy Institute is calling for urgent measures to retain younger professionals and make better use of the expanding pool of older engineers.
Without such steps, experts warn, the industry may face a shortage of mid-career professionals — those who typically bridge on-site operations with project oversight and planning — threatening the future of infrastructure development and safety standards.
