South Korea added 113,000 employed people in September from a year earlier, extending year-on-year gains to a third consecutive month, according to a government employment report. Seasonally adjusted employment also increased by 40,000 from August, its fourth consecutive monthly rise.
Manufacturing employment rose by 16,000 from a year earlier, reversing the previous month's 38,000 decline and recording its first increase since June 2024. The government attributed the turn to sustained business confidence and the delayed effect of strong exports. Service-sector employment increased by 221,000, supported by health and welfare services and transportation and storage, although weakness persisted in accommodation and food services.
The headline improvement was uneven across industries and age groups. Construction employment fell by 48,000 from a year earlier, while declines continued in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Wholesale and retail employment decreased by 1,000, and accommodation and food services lost 97,000 jobs.
The employment rate for people aged 15 and older was 63.5%, down 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. For those aged 15 to 64, the rate rose 0.2 percentage point to 70.6%, the highest September level on record. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point to 2.0%.
Youth and construction employment remain weak
Young people remained under pressure despite the broader increase in employment. The employment rate for people aged 15 to 29 dropped 1.1 percentage points to 44.0%, while the rate for those aged 15 to 34 fell 0.4 percentage point to 56.1%. The number of young people outside employment who reported that they were simply resting declined year on year for an eighth consecutive month.
- Manufacturing employment
- Up 16,000 year on year
- Employment rate, ages 15 to 64
- 70.6%, up 0.2 percentage point
- Youth employment rate, ages 15 to 29
- 44.0%, down 1.1 percentage points
Job quality indicators showed growth concentrated among permanent employees. Their number increased by 253,000, lifting their share of employment to 57.8%, the highest recorded for September. Temporary employment fell by 81,000 and daily employment declined by 55,000. The government said it would prepare a national jobs project, develop measures for weak sectors including construction and agriculture, and make advance preparations for youth employment initiatives scheduled for full implementation next year.