Number of Workers in Accommodation and Food Services Rebounds in November After 'With Corona' Implementation... First Time Since COVID-19

Business Workforce Survey Results... 1.117 Million, Same as Previous Year

Total Number of Workers Reaches 19.06 Million, Increasing for 9 Consecutive Months

On the first day of the phased social distancing (With Corona) policy last month on the 1st, a sign indicating 24-hour operation was seen at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The number of workers in the accommodation and food service industry last month, when the phased social distancing (With Corona) policy was implemented, has emerged from a declining trend for the first time in 22 months. However, it is uncertain whether the figures will turn to an increasing trend next month due to variables such as the Omicron variant.

According to the business workforce survey results announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 29th, as of the last business day of last month, the number of workers in domestic businesses with one or more employees in the accommodation and food service industry was 1,117,000, the same as in November a year ago. Workers in the accommodation and food service industry had recorded negative growth for 21 consecutive months from February last year to October this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The total number of business workers increased for nine consecutive months. Last month, it was 19,062,000, an increase of 222,000 compared to the same month last year. Compared to the same month last year, the number of business workers switched from a decrease of 218,000 in February this year to an increase of 193,000 in March.

Earlier in October, the total number of business workers was 19,002,000, surpassing 19 million for the first time since the Ministry of Employment and Labor began related surveys in June 2009.

The three industries with the largest increase in workers compared to the same month a year ago were health and social welfare services (119,000), education services (55,000), and information and communication (54,000). The three industries with the largest decrease were public administration, defense, and social security administration (111,000), construction (20,000), and business facility management, business support, and rental services (4,000).

By employment status, the number of regular employees increased by 181,000 (1.2%) and temporary and daily workers increased by 48,000 (2.4%) compared to the same month a year ago.

By business size, the number of workers in businesses with 'less than 300 employees' increased by 283,000 (1.8%), but those in businesses with '300 or more employees' decreased by 61,000 (2.0%). This is analyzed as a base effect due to the increase in workers in '300 or more employees' businesses in November last year because of public administration job creation projects to overcome COVID-19. The number of workers in the manufacturing industry, the backbone of the domestic industry, increased by 32,000, maintaining positive growth for seven consecutive months. The number of new hires increased by 70,000 (8.1%), and the number of job changes increased by 29,000 (3.4%).

The total wage per worker in October this year was 3,455,000 KRW, an increase of 3.6% compared to October a year ago. The business workforce survey conducted monthly by the Ministry of Employment and Labor targets businesses with fixed workplaces excluding agriculture and others, so workers in household service industries without fixed workplaces are excluded.

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's business workforce survey by occupation, as of the third quarter, the number of job openings in businesses with five or more regular employees was 804,000, and the number of hires was 690,000, increasing by 183,000 (29.4%) and 133,000 (23.9%) respectively compared to the same period a year ago.

The industries with the most job openings and hires are manufacturing (job openings 162,000, hires 124,000), health and social welfare services (110,000, 99,000), construction (105,000, hires 100,000), and business facility management, business support, and rental services (104,000, 97,000), in that order.

The 'unfilled positions,' meaning the number of positions not filled despite active recruitment, was 114,000, an increase of 50,000 (76.9%) compared to the third quarter a year ago. The most common reason for unfilled positions was 'wage levels and working conditions not meeting job seekers' expectations' at 23.3%, followed by 'no applicants with the experience required by the business' at 21.3%.

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