0
Job seekers attend a career fair in Seoul. / Source: Yonhap News

South Korea’s job market continued to expand in August, though gains were driven largely by senior employment, while youth and manufacturing jobs saw persistent declines.

According to Statistics Korea’s “August Employment Trends” released on September 10, the number of employed people reached 28.967 million last month, up 166,000 from a year earlier.

The pace of job growth has slowed compared with earlier in the year, when monthly gains hovered near 200,000. After increases of 193,000 in March, 194,000 in April, and 245,000 in May, growth eased to 183,000 in June, 171,000 in July, and 166,000 in August.

By industry, manufacturing employment fell by 61,000, marking its 14th consecutive monthly decline, while construction lost 132,000 jobs for the 16th straight month.

By age group, employment among young people (15–29) dropped by 219,000, extending its 16-month downward streak. Jobs also decreased among those in their 40s (–73,000) and 50s (–38,000). In contrast, workers aged 60 and above gained 401,000 positions, driving the overall increase.

Meanwhile, the number of people in their 30s classified as “inactive” — not seeking employment at all — reached 328,000, the highest figure ever recorded for August.

Gong Mi-sook, head of Statistics Korea’s Social Statistics Bureau, said, “A growing preference for experienced workers and the spread of irregular recruitment practices are weighing against younger job seekers.”