As the earning differentials of urban and rural areas increase due to recent global economic downturn and the lack of domestic consumption, the need for countermeasures to induce manpower inflow and revitalize local economy is also increasing.

Economic revitalization of rural areas should be pursued in a way to maximize front-to-back effect of local economy through the efficient use of natural resources of the region. The strategy to create jobs should be sought out to support the development of local agriculture without troubling the existing issue of agricultural labor shortage.

The purpose of this study is to carry out a strategic plan to create jobs in the food industry according to the changes in manpower and labor structure of rural areas due to retirement of baby boomer generation, rapid population aging, and returning and incoming farmers from the urban cities. To be more specific, it includes derivation of the policies for the effective job creation in rural areas and presentation of means of support to central and local governments. The research method for the job creation in rural areas involves deriving policies after analyzing current status of employment inducement, job creation effect and its degree of concentration in the food manufacturing industry as well as case studies of the rural areas.

Major findings of this study are as follows; ① If the location of the companies related to foods is in rural areas, comprehensive consulting and support are required from establishment and production to sales, whereas the companies located in urban areas require support in safety and licensing. ② The food companies related to agricultural products in urban areas have the advantage on the job creation and ramification to associated industries. Therefore, the locational advantage of the food companies in urban areas should be fully utilized.


Researchers: Kim, Kyeong-Duk, Choi, Ji-Hyun, Heo, Joo-Nyung and Yang, Chan-Yeong
Research period: 2012. 11. - 2013. 6.
E-mail address: kdkim@krei.re.kr