Employment of workers with over 36 hours per week down 39%... Only 'quality jobs' decreased in 30s employment

October Employment Trends Microdata Analysis
Government Reports Sharp Decline in Quality Jobs Despite Population Decrease
Part-time and Under 35-Hour Weekly Workers Triple Surge

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Among all age groups last month, the only group that saw a decrease in employment was those in their 30s, with the number of 'workers working 36 hours or more per week,' which generally indicates higher-quality jobs, plummeting by more than 1.2 million compared to the same month last year. In contrast, part-time workers working less than 36 hours per week more than tripled during the same period. The government previously attributed the decline in employment among people in their 30s, often called the "backbone of the economy," to population decline, but it seems difficult to avoid criticism regarding the "deterioration in job quality."

On the 16th, Asia Economy analyzed the microdata from the October Economically Active Population Survey by Statistics Korea and found that the number of employed people in their 30s working 36 hours or more per week was 3.207 million, a sharp drop of 1.264 million from 4.471 million in the same month last year. Statistics Korea had earlier reported that the total number of employed people in their 30s last month was 5.252 million, down by 24,000 from 5.276 million in the same month last year, indicating a significant decrease in jobs with 36 hours or more per week, which are generally considered higher-quality jobs.

Among those working 36 hours or more per week, the number of regular employees, who generally have relatively higher job security, decreased by 1.116 million from 3.385 million in October last year to 2.269 million this year. Temporary workers also dropped by more than 50,000 to 295,000. Self-employed individuals with employees and solo self-employed without employees decreased by 11,000 and 40,000, respectively. On the other hand, the number of workers with short-term jobs working 35 hours or less per week surged by 1.251 million from 667,000 to 1.918 million. Ultra-short-term workers working less than 17 hours per week also increased by 11,000, from 155,000 to 166,000.

Statistics Korea explained that the difference in the number of survey days last month, which was one day fewer than the same month last year, affected the figures. A Statistics Korea official said, "The survey period coincided with the temporary holiday for Hangul Day, so the number of survey days was one day shorter," adding, "This had some impact on the employment figures."

However, experts point out that the deterioration in the quality of employment for people in their 30s appears clear. The difference in survey days applies equally to other age groups as well. Professor Kim Taegi, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Dankook University, said, "The fact that the number of regular employees has decreased means that relatively stable jobs have declined, which can be interpreted as an overall decline in employment quality."

There is also criticism of the government's explanation that the decline in employment among people in their 30s is a natural numerical change due to population decline. A representative argument questions how to explain cases like Japan, where the population is declining but the unemployment rate has dropped to the 2% range. Professor Kim Taegi said, "There is a problem with the government's logic that explains the decline in employment among people in their 30s as a 'natural employment decline due to population decline,'" adding, "In Japan, despite the population decline similar to Korea, the unemployment rate has dropped to the 2% range, and the quality of employment is actually improving." He added, "It is questionable how the government’s logic can explain such differences."

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