[Newstory] The Counterattack of Blue-Collar Workers... Millennials and Generation Z Turning to Skilled Labor (Broadcasted on September 19, 2026)

As young people's perspectives on technical jobs are changing, is our society properly supporting their choices? Noh Hye-yeon, a former airline flight attendant working as a tile grouter in Australia, says that even when wearing the fluorescent work clothes that would have made her conscious of other people's gazes in Korea, no one pays attention in Australia. Instead, she notes that society highly values women working in technical jobs. She also said her salary is at a satisfying level—enough in a single week to match what she made in a service job in Korea.

Experts say that to properly foster blue-collar jobs, going beyond just major conglomerate production roles or a few positions with high allowances, wage levels, working conditions, and safety must be reexamined.

Reported by Lee Jong-hoon | Produced by Kim Da-yeon | Video by Ahn Min-shin | Produced by SBS Digital News