South Korean employment rises by 113,000 amid youth job slump

employment trends youth unemployment manufacturing sector job market polarization National Job Project

South Korea's employment market showed mixed results in September. The total number of employed persons aged 15 and older rose by 113,000 compared to the previous year, marking four consecutive months of growth. Notably, the employment rate for the 15-64 age group reached a record high of 70.6%.

However, significant polarization exists within the labor market. While manufacturing employment rebounded for the first time in 27 months due to strong exports, youth employment continues to struggle. The number of employed persons aged 15-29 fell by 147,000, representing 47 consecutive months of decline. Even when the youth age bracket is expanded to include those aged 15-34, employment figures remain down.

Sectoral differences were also stark. Employment in the accommodation and food service industry dropped by 97,000, and the construction sector saw a decrease of 48,000. In contrast, the elderly population (65+) drove much of the growth, with 254,000 new jobs, more than double the overall increase. In response to these disparities, the government announced plans to launch the ‘National Job Project’ to support vulnerable sectors like youth and construction.

Entities

Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice · Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service · Ministry of Economy and Finance · Ministry of Employment and Labor · National Data Agency · Park Ji-won · South Korea

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Employed persons aged 65 and older increased by 254,000, more than double the total employment growth. www.hidomin.com · www.imaeil.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The government plans to implement the ‘National Job Project’ to address employment slumps in the youth and construction sectors. www.hidomin.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.newstomato.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The employment rate for ages 15-64 reached a record high of 70.6% for the month of September. www.hidomin.com · www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Employed persons aged 15-29 decreased by 147,000 compared to the previous year, marking 47 consecutive months of decline. www.hidomin.com · www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.newstomato.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Employment in the accommodation and food service industry decreased by 97,000. www.hidomin.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.newstomato.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Employment in the construction sector decreased by 48,000. www.hidomin.com · biz.heraldcorp.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The number of employed persons aged 15 and older increased by 113,000 compared to the same month last year. www.hidomin.com · www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.newstomato.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Manufacturing employment increased by 16,000, marking the first rise in 27 months. www.hidomin.com · www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.newstomato.com