90,000 Decrease in Youth Employment... Permanent Jobs Decline, Temporary Jobs Increase

Youth Employment Rate at 46.2%
45,000 Quality Jobs Decreased

Last month, the total number of employed youth was 3,907,000, a decrease of 89,000 compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the number of youth employed in unstable temporary and daily jobs increased by more than 20,000.

According to the microdata from the Statistics Korea Economically Active Population Survey on the 16th, the total number of employed youth (aged 15-29) last month was 3,907,000. This figure represents a decrease of 89,000 compared to the previous year. The number has declined for five consecutive months since November last year compared to the same month of the previous year.

On the 2nd, job seekers participating in the 'Korea Job Fair' held at aT Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are looking at the recruitment bulletin board. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Last month, the number of temporary workers among youth was 1,068,000, an increase of 13,000 compared to the previous year. Temporary workers refer to those employed under contracts lasting between one month and less than one year, or those employed short-term without a formal employment contract.

The number of daily workers among youth, whose employment contracts last less than one month, was 139,000, an increase of 10,000 compared to the previous year.

In contrast, the number of regular workers among youth, considered to be quality jobs, was 2,494,000, a decrease of 45,000.

Youth self-employed without employees (134,000) and youth self-employed with employees (43,000) decreased by 42,000 and 12,000 respectively, while unpaid family workers numbered 29,000, a decrease of 12,000.

By industry, the number of temporary and daily youth workers in the accommodation and food service sector, often part-time jobs, increased significantly. Among youth employed in accommodation and food services, temporary workers numbered 365,000 and daily workers 59,000, increases of 57,000 and 15,000 respectively compared to the previous year.

In the accommodation and food service sector, regular youth workers (164,000) also increased by 30,000. The decrease in regular youth workers was notable in manufacturing (-40,000) and wholesale and retail trade (-38,000).

Youth self-employed without employees saw the largest decrease in the transportation and warehousing sector (-15,000), which includes food delivery. This is analyzed to be due to a reduction in delivery orders following the lifting of social distancing measures.

The youth employment rate was 46.2%, down 0.1 percentage points from a year ago, but it ranks second highest ever for March, indicating a relatively high level compared to previous years.

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