Samsung Group said Thursday it plans to employ 60,000 new employees over the next five years to foster future growth engines and create opportunities for young people.

The country's top conglomerate said it will especially focus on hiring new workers in the semiconductor, biotechnology and artificial intelligence sectors.

Nineteen affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T and Samsung Biologics, are currently in the process of hiring workers, it added.

Samsung Group has maintained a groupwide open recruitment program for entry-level workers since 1957.

The group added it will continue to run separate internship programs to give young job seekers experience while formally hiring verified candidates.

Meanwhile, the country's second-largest business group, SK, announced it plans to hire an additional 4,000 workers by the end of this year, on top of the same number hired in the first half, focusing on recruiting professionals in AI and digital transformation.

SK Group added it will continue to expand hiring, especially as its new semiconductor cluster in Yongin, south of Seoul, aims to begin operations in 2027.

Hanwha Group, a chemicals-to-shipbuilding conglomerate, said Thursday it will hire 3,500 workers across 30 affiliates in the second half, up 66.7 percent from 2,100 hired in the first half.

Of the planned recruitment, 2,500 employees will be allocated to its three defense-related units -- Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems.

POSCO Group, the country's leading steelmaker, plans to create 15,000 jobs over the next five years and will increase this year's recruitment target to 3,000 from the previously announced 2,600, it said.