# South Korea labor market shifts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korea-labor-market-shifts
> Updated: 2026-10-24T22:31:27.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

South Korea is experiencing significant fluctuations in its non-regular workforce. In August, the number of non-regular workers reached a record high of 8.67 million, representing 38.5% of all wage earners. This growth was largely driven by the elderly population, particularly in the health and social welfare sectors. During this period, the wage gap between regular and non-regular employees widened to a record 1.94 million won per month, with non-regular wages falling to 52.1% of regular wage levels.

However, subsequent data for the third quarter indicates a decline in specific segments of the precarious workforce. The number of temporary and daily workers fell to 5.727 million, the lowest third-quarter level since 1995. This contraction was primarily driven by downturns in the construction and domestic consumption sectors, with daily workers reaching a record low for the third quarter. These losses have heavily impacted middle-aged workers and those aged 60 and older, raising concerns regarding income inequality and poverty.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-24: South Korea temporary and daily workers hit 31-year low

South Korea's temporary and daily worker count hit a 31-year low in Q3, driven by construction and domestic sector slumps, heavily impacting middle-aged workers.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-temporary-and-daily-workers-hit-31-year-low

### 2026-10-21: South Korea non-regular workers reach record 8.67 million

South Korea's non-regular workforce hit a record 8.67 million in August, with the monthly wage gap between regular and non-regular workers widening to 1.94 million won.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-non-regular-workers-reach-record-867-million

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Cite as: South Korea labor market shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korea-labor-market-shifts