Korea lags in AI workforce readiness despite quality STEM education

South Korea ranked sixth in the inaugural QS World Future Skills Index 2027, scoring 93.4, behind the U.S., Australia, the U.K., Germany and Canada. The index reveals a mismatch between Korea's strong STEM education and corporate R&D capabilities and its higher education system's alignment with AI workforce needs. Korea performed well in skills alignment and economic transformation but lagged in academic readiness for the AI era.

LONDON — Korea has high quality education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM and corporate research and development capabilities, but the higher education system is less aligned with workforce needs in the age of artificial intelligence AI than many of its global competitors, a new index by QS showed Wednesday. The report underscored a growing mismatch between the country's educational strengths and future labor market needs. In the inaugural QS World Future Skills Index 2027, Korea recorded an overall score of 93.4, ranking sixth globally behind the U.S., Australia, the U.K., Germany and Canada. The new index evaluates how well 89 economies are positioned to develop and deploy talent in the era of AI, digital transformation and the green transition, measuring performance across four areas: skills alignment, academic readiness, future of work and economic transformation. Korea showed competitiveness in skills alignment and economic transformation, placing fifth and fourth, respectively. Speaking to The Korea Times, Matteo Quacquarelli, QS vice president for str