Employment Insurance Subscribers Increase by Over 500,000 Compared to Last Year for 4 Consecutive Months

14.753 million in April... Increase of 556,000
Growth across all industries and age groups
Challenges persist in land transport, aviation, and department stores

(Data provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor)

The number of regular subscribers to employment insurance reached 14,753,000 last month, an increase of 556,000 (3.9%) compared to the same month last year. Accordingly, the number of employment insurance subscribers has continued to increase by more than 500,000 compared to the previous year for four consecutive months.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the labor market trends for April on the 9th, containing this information. According to the ministry, last month, employment insurance subscribers increased across all industries, including manufacturing, and all age groups.

In manufacturing, the number reached 3,668,000, an increase of 84,000 compared to the same month last year, marking 16 consecutive months of growth since January last year. Other transportation equipment (shipbuilding) turned to an upward trend after 23 months, and electronics and telecommunications, food products, and metal processing also continued to rise.

The number of subscribers in the service industry was 10,170,000, an increase of 439,000 compared to one year ago. With increased demand for care and social welfare, non-face-to-face services, and recovery in face-to-face service industries due to the easing of quarantine guidelines, the number of subscribers increased in all sectors.

Accommodation and food and beverage industries showed an upward trend due to the easing of quarantine guidelines, but the scale of accommodation subscribers remains lower than in April 2020. Despite increases in parcel delivery and freight trucks, land transportation and air transportation sectors continued to decline.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor explained, "Looking at detailed industries, sectors with high face-to-face contact such as land transportation (taxis), aviation, department stores, and travel continue to decline, indicating that the perceived conditions remain difficult."

(Data provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor)

By age group, increases were seen across all ages: under 29 (58,000), 30s (22,000), 40s (70,000), 50s (169,000), and 60 and over (238,000).

Those under 29 increased mainly in publishing, video communication, and accommodation and food services; those in their 30s increased mainly in publishing, video communication, and professional scientific technology. People in their 50s saw significant increases in health and welfare and manufacturing, while those 60 and over increased notably in health and welfare and manufacturing as well.

The number of new job-seeker benefit applicants was 93,000, a decrease of 10,000 (10.1%) compared to the same month last year. Decreases were mainly seen in construction (4,000), business services (2,000), and manufacturing (2,000).

The total number of job-seeker benefit recipients was 652,000, down 87,000 (11.7%), and the benefit amount was 972.2 billion won, a decrease of 185.7 billion won (16.0%). The benefit amount per payment, which is the amount received when job-seeker benefits are paid once to a recipient, was about 1.38 million won, a 1.6% decrease.

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