South Korea adds 113,000 jobs in September as youth employment keeps falling
In short
South Korea had 29.266 million employed people in September, up 113,000 from a year earlier, according to employment data released on October 16. Employment among people aged 15–29 fell by 147,000, extending its decline to 47 consecutive months.
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South Korea's employed population rose to 29.266 million in September, an increase of 113,000 from a year earlier, according to employment data released on October 16. It was the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, but the increase narrowed from August's 184,000. Employment among people aged 15–29 fell by 147,000, extending its decline to 47 months, while their employment rate fell for a 29th month. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 ]
The youth employment rate stood at 44.0%, down 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier, while youth unemployment rose 0.6 percentage points to 5.4%. The overall unemployment rate moved in the opposite direction, falling 0.1 percentage points to 2.0%, with 600,000 people unemployed. The employment rate for people aged 15–64 rose 0.2 percentage points to 70.6%, while the rate for the population aged 15 and above fell 0.2 percentage points to 63.5%. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Manufacturing employment increased by 16,000, the first rise since June 2024. Reports attributed that growth to chemicals, fabricated metal products and other transport equipment, despite declines in automobiles and textiles. Health and social welfare employment rose by 207,000, transport and warehousing by 54,000, and finance and insurance by 32,000. Accommodation and food services employment fell by 97,000, the largest decline since February 2021. The data agency cited a comparison with last year's consumption-coupon-driven employment gains. [ 1 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]
The release also introduced additional youth employment indicators for ages 15–34. Several outlets reported 98,000 fewer employed people in that group, an employment rate of 56.1% and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Newsis's 08:22 summary instead gives the group's employment rate as 70.6%, up 0.2 percentage points; its earlier report gives 56.1%, down 0.4 percentage points. The 70.6% figure matches the separately reported rate for ages 15–64. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 17 ]
Why it matters
Manufacturing employment returned to growth, but accommodation and food services suffered their largest decline since February 2021. Youth employment weakened even under newly published statistics covering ages 15–34.
Key facts
- Total employment rose by 113,000 year on year, compared with an increase of 184,000 in August. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 ]
- The employment rate for ages 15–29 fell 1.1 percentage points to 44.0%. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- Manufacturing employment increased by 16,000, its first year-on-year rise since June 2024. [ 1 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]
- Accommodation and food services employment fell by 97,000. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- The overall unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 2.0%. [ 1 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The employment rate for ages 15–34 is reported inconsistently. Newsis's 08:22 summary gives 70.6%, up 0.2 percentage points, while its earlier report and several other outlets give 56.1%, down 0.4 percentage points; the former figures match the separately reported 15–64 rate.