Business · Economy · 3 hrs ago
South Korea adds 113,000 jobs in September as youth employment falls
South Korea had 113,000 more people in work in September than a year earlier, marking four straight months of growth.
But employment among people aged 15 to 29 fell for the 47th month in a row, with 147,000 fewer young workers than a year earlier.
The youth employment rate fell to 44%, while their unemployment rate reached 5.4%, the highest for September in four years.
The overall jobs increase was more than accounted for by people aged 65 and older, whose employment rose by 254,000; employment among people aged 15 to 64 fell by 141,000.
Manufacturing employment rose for the first time in 27 months, while jobs in hotels and restaurants fell by 97,000.
The government says it plans to announce a joint plan to improve youth employment soon.
South Korea had 29.266 million employed people in September, up 113,000 from a year earlier.
Employment increased for a fourth consecutive month, though the gain was smaller than in August.
Employment among people aged 15 to 29 fell by 147,000, marking a 47th consecutive month of decline.
The youth unemployment rate was 5.4%, the highest September rate in four years.
Manufacturing employment rose by 16,000, its first year-on-year increase in 27 months.
- Who
- South Korea’s employed population, including workers aged 15 to 29.
- What
- Employment rose by 113,000 year on year in September, while youth employment fell by 147,000.
- When
- September 2026; the employment figures were announced on October 16.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Employment declined.
Employment began a four-month run of increases, rising by 63,000 year on year.
Employment rose by 108,000 year on year.
Employment rose by 184,000 year on year.
Employment rose by 113,000 year on year, while youth employment fell by 147,000.
- Total employment
- 29.266 million in September 2026
- Year-on-year employment gain
- 113,000
- Youth employment change
- Down 147,000 for people aged 15 to 29
- Youth unemployment rate
- 5.4%
- Manufacturing employment
- Up 16,000, the first year-on-year increase in 27 months
What people are saying
As the working-age population declines, employment rose in health and transportation, lifting the employment rate for people aged 15 to 64, but population changes pushed down the overall employment rate.
Youth employment fell in finance and insurance and transportation and warehousing, while it declined in health and welfare, wholesale and retail, and information and communications, resulting in a 47th consecutive monthly drop.