Daily Workers Under 1 Month Decrease for 7 Consecutive Months... Only Those Aged 60 and Over Increase

2030 Sees a Decrease of 103,000 People... Employment Shock Concentrated on Vulnerable Groups

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that daily workers with a working period of less than one month have decreased for seven consecutive months. This indicates that the employment shock from COVID-19 is concentrated on vulnerable groups. The number of daily workers in their 20s and 30s has decreased by more than 100,000 over the past year. On the other hand, daily workers aged 60 and over increased by nearly 20,000, making them the only age group to see an increase. Daily workers refer to those whose contract period is less than one month. This includes construction site workers and restaurant kitchen assistants.

According to the Employment Trends report by Statistics Korea on the 19th, the number of daily workers among employed persons last month was 1,238,000, a decrease of 175,000 compared to the same month last year. By age group, daily workers in their 20s decreased by 72,000, the largest decline among all age groups. Daily workers in their 30s also decreased by 31,000. In total, daily workers in their 20s and 30s decreased by 103,000. Additionally, daily workers also declined across the board in their 40s (-23,000), 50s (-64,000), and teens (ages 15?19, -4,000). However, daily workers aged 60 and over increased by 19,000 over the year, the only age group to show growth.

By industry, last month daily workers decreased by 60,000 in accommodation and food services, and by 25,000 in wholesale and retail trade. In construction, which has high short-term labor demand, daily workers decreased by 63,000.

Among all wage workers last month, permanent workers (+611,000) and temporary workers (+106,000) increased, but daily workers decreased. As a result, daily workers have recorded a decline for seven consecutive months from May to November, with last month showing the largest decrease since January (-232,000). The employment shock caused by the resurgence of COVID-19 has been concentrated on vulnerable groups such as daily workers. Jeong Dongmyeong, Director of the Social Statistics Bureau at Statistics Korea, explained, "With the implementation of phased daily recovery and relaxation of quarantine rules, the number of daily confirmed cases surged, leading to a significant decrease in employment, especially in restaurants and pubs."

With strengthened quarantine measures this month, employment shocks centered on face-to-face service industries may become even more severe. In the 'November Employment Trends Analysis,' the government stated, "Employment in wholesale and retail trade, accommodation, and food services decreased last month, and difficulties for self-employed persons with employees and daily workers continued," adding, "We will closely monitor the impact of recent quarantine uncertainties on the labor market and promptly implement support measures for small business owners in affected industries that have already been prepared."

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