'Delta Variant' July Worker Increase Hits 200,000s for First Time in 4 Months... Two Out of Three Are Temporary or Daily Workers

Ministry of Employment Announces 'Business Workforce Survey' Results

Permanent Employees Up 0.8%, Temporary and Daily Workers Surge 11.1%

Health and Social Welfare Services Jobs Increase by 106,000 Amid Government Job Initiatives
'COVID-19 Hit' Accommodation and Food Services Down 64,000 for 18 Consecutive Months

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The increase in the number of workers employed by domestic businesses continued at the 300,000 level but dropped to the 200,000 level last month for the first time in four months. Of the approximately 270,000 increase, two-thirds, or 190,000, were temporary and daily workers.

According to the July Business Workforce Survey results announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 31st, the total number of workers employed by domestic businesses with one or more employees as of the last business day of last month was 18,839,000, an increase of 274,000 (1.5%) compared to July of the previous year.

The number of workers employed by businesses had been decreasing for 12 consecutive months from March last year but turned to an increasing trend for five consecutive months starting in March. However, while the increase was at the 300,000 level from April to June, it sharply dropped to the 200,000 level in July.

Looking at the increase and decrease by employment status, the number of regular workers, whose employment is relatively stable, increased by 70,000 (0.4%), whereas temporary and daily workers surged by 194,000 (11.1%). This is interpreted as partly due to the base effect from the sharp decrease in temporary and daily workers last year. Other workers, including special employment types (teukgo) such as insurance planners, increased by 10,000 (0.8%).

By industry, the health and social welfare services sector, including participants in government job projects, saw the largest increase of 106,000. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector followed with an increase of 58,000 workers.

On the other hand, the accommodation and food service industry, which was hit hard by social distancing measures, decreased by 64,000 workers, continuing its decline for 18 consecutive months. The business facility management sector, including travel agencies, also saw a decrease of 13,000 workers.

The manufacturing sector increased by 19,000 workers. After turning to an increase in May for the first time in 16 months, it showed an increasing trend for three consecutive months.

As of June, the total wage per worker in domestic businesses with one or more regular employees was 3,492,000 KRW, up 141,000 KRW (4.2%) compared to the same month last year.

The wage for regular workers was 3,680,000 KRW, up 155,000 KRW (4.4%), and for temporary and daily workers, it was 1,711,000 KRW, up 56,000 KRW (3.4%).

The average working hours per worker were 168.9 hours, an increase of 1.5 hours (0.9%) compared to the same month last year.

The Business Workforce Survey is conducted on a sample of domestic businesses with fixed business establishments, excluding agriculture and similar sectors. Workers in household service industries without fixed business establishments are excluded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.