Artificial intelligence (AI) proliferation and industrial restructuring are increasing uncertainty in the job market, and the responses of workers in the United States and South Korea are clearly diverging.
In the U.S., searches for new jobs or information to prepare for potential layoffs have surged, whereas in South Korea, searches related to job changes and entrepreneurship have declined, indicating a stronger tendency to stay with current employers.
On the 28th, Blind, a workplace community platform, analyzed search data from 2022 to 2025 among users in South Korea and the U.S. regarding job changes, layoffs, and entrepreneurship. U.S. search volume for these terms increased by 48%, from 555,642 to 822,608. In contrast, South Korea saw a 37% decrease, from 486,348 to 305,879.
The analysis was based on 2,788,629 U.S. searches and 1,580,865 South Korean searches over the past four years.
Yearly trends also showed differences. In the U.S., search volume increased for three consecutive years starting in 2023, while in South Korea it decreased steadily over the same period, with the decline accelerating.
In the U.S., job-change-related searches rose from 316,879 to 449,261. This suggests active information-seeking for new employment opportunities, such as resume writing, referrals, and headhunters.
Layoff-related searches also increased by over 60%, from 225,930 to 364,930. Searches related to restructuring, such as "low-performer management programs" and "severance packages," also grew, reflecting heightened job insecurity.
Entrepreneurship-related searches decreased overall but showed a rebound this year compared to the previous year.
In South Korea, job-change-related searches nearly halved, from 368,962 to 198,319.
Searches related to layoffs, restructuring, voluntary retirement, constructive dismissal, and unemployment benefits temporarily increased in 2023 but then declined again. Entrepreneurship-related searches also fell from 11,764 to 7,135.
Industry insiders interpret this as a result of a contracting domestic hiring market combined with an economic slowdown, leading to a widespread sentiment of maintaining one's current job rather than attempting a move.
A Blind representative explained, "While U.S. workers actively seek information to find new opportunities or prepare for job insecurity, South Korean workers show a strong tendency to stay put and monitor the situation."
They added, "The U.S. exhibits a 'mobile response' involving job changes, side gigs, and entrepreneurship, whereas South Korea shows a 'stay-put response' focused on retaining current employment amid reduced hiring and economic uncertainty."
However, some analysts note that a decrease in search volume does not necessarily mean reduced job insecurity. It could also indicate that people have given up searching due to fewer actual opportunities, or that they have shifted to other channels like job platforms and social networks.
An HR industry official said, "As the domestic labor market continues to slow and companies reduce hiring, workers are increasingly risk-averse and inclined to stay in their current jobs. Combined with job changes driven by AI proliferation, this trend is likely to continue for the time being."
