A job truthful in Seoul, Nov. 6, 2025 / Yonhap
Korea maintained year-on-year employment development on the 100,000 degree for the second consecutive 12 months in 2025, as job losses continued within the manufacturing and development sectors and youth employment remained sluggish, knowledge confirmed Wednesday.
The variety of employed individuals elevated 193,000, or 0.7 %, from a 12 months earlier to twenty-eight.77 million final 12 months, in keeping with the info from the Ministry of Information and Statistics.
Job creation had been extra sturdy within the quick post-pandemic interval, with 816,000 new positions added in 2022, marking the biggest year-on-year improve in 22 years.
Nevertheless, the tempo slowed to 327,000 in 2023 and weakened additional in 2024, when solely 159,000 jobs had been added.
By sector, the development trade shed 125,000 jobs in 2025 amid a chronic downturn, marking the biggest decline for the reason that revision of commercial classifications in 2013.
The manufacturing sector, thought-about the spine of the economic system, misplaced 73,000 jobs, its largest year-on-year decline since 2019, when 81,000 positions had been minimize.
The agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector shed 107,000 jobs.
In distinction, employment elevated in well being and social welfare providers by 237,000, reaching a document 3.18 million staff.
Skilled, scientific and technical providers gained 54,000 jobs, and monetary and insurance coverage providers added 44,000 positions.
By age group, employment amongst individuals aged 60 and older rose by 345,000 year-on-year, the biggest improve amongst all age brackets.
In distinction, jobs for these of their 20s fell by 170,000, partly reflecting the shrinking inhabitants of the age group.
The variety of individuals reporting they had been out of labor to easily take a break rose by 88,000 to 2.56 million in 2025.
Amongst them, 309,000 had been of their 30s, the best determine since statistics for the class had been first compiled in 2003.
“Up to now, many individuals of their 30s left the workforce for youngster care or family duties attributable to marriage or childbirth, however right this moment, extra are categorized as taking a break,” Bin Hyun-joon, a ministry official, advised reporters.
He additional mentioned recruitment for knowledgeable positions and advert hoc hiring practices are inclined to drawback younger job seekers.
The employment charge for these aged 15 and older gained 0.2 share level year-on-year to 62.9 % in 2025.
The employment charge for individuals aged 15-64 added 0.3 share level from a 12 months earlier to 69.8 %.
In December alone, the nation added 168,000 jobs from a 12 months earlier, sharply down from the 225,000 year-on-year improve recorded in November.
The December determine marks the smallest year-on-year development since August, when 166,000 jobs had been added.
