Increase in Employment Insurance Subscribers Falls Below 500,000 for the First Time This Year

Employment Insurance Enrollment Increases to 400,000s for the First Time This Year
Public Administration Subscribers Decrease as Government Jobs Shrink

(Data provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor)

The increase in employment insurance subscribers shrank to the 400,000 range for the first time this year. This is interpreted as a result of the reduction in government job programs, which had expanded due to COVID-19, leading to a decrease in subscribers in the public administration sector.

According to the labor market trends announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 11th, the number of regular employment insurance subscribers at the end of last month was 14,808,000, an increase of 475,000 compared to June last year.

The number of employment insurance subscribers peaked at 565,000 in February, then decreased to 557,000 in March, 556,000 in April, and 522,000 in May, before recording the 400,000 range for the first time this year in June.

Although employment insurance subscribers increased in most industries and sectors due to the recovery from COVID-19, the number of subscribers in the public administration sector decreased.

The number of public administration subscribers was 410,000, down 28,000 compared to June last year. This marks a decrease for two consecutive months following May, with the decline also larger than in May.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor explained, "The reduction in the scale of direct jobs expanded for COVID-19 response led to an increased decline, but the number of employment insurance subscribers remained at a higher level than before COVID-19."

The number of manufacturing subscribers was 3,670,000, an increase of 81,000 compared to the same month last year, marking 18 consecutive months of growth since January last year. Most increases were centered on electronics and telecommunications, food products, metal processing, machinery equipment, and electrical equipment, while other transportation equipment (shipbuilding), clothing and fur, and textiles decreased.

In the case of automobiles, despite ongoing shipment backlogs due to global supply chain disruptions and the Cargo Solidarity strike, demand centered on eco-friendly vehicles and SUVs increased, showing an upward trend.

(Data provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor)

The number of service industry subscribers was 10,218,000, an increase of 359,000 compared to the same month last year. Thanks to increased demand for care, social welfare, and non-face-to-face services, as well as the recovery of face-to-face service industries following the return to normal life, all sectors except public administration saw increases.

Last month's job-seeking benefits (unemployment benefits) payments amounted to 955.7 billion won, a decrease of 138.7 billion won (12.7%) compared to the same month last year. The total number of job-seeking benefit recipients was 615,000, down 78,000 (11.3%).

The number of new job-seeking benefit applicants (85,000) decreased by 6,000 (6.5%), mainly due to declines in construction (-3,000), manufacturing (-2,000), and transportation (-1,000).

The labor market trends announced monthly by the Ministry of Employment and Labor target regular and temporary workers among employment insurance subscribers, excluding special employment types, platform workers, self-employed, and ultra-short-time workers.

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