South Korea's Employment Landscape in April 2025

South Korea witnessed a notable addition of 194,000 jobs in April compared to the same month last year, marking the fourth consecutive month of job growth since January. Despite this positive trend, the manufacturing and construction sectors experienced significant job losses, and the employment situation among younger workers continues to deteriorate.

Sector-Wise Employment Trends

The health and social welfare services sector led job gains with an increase of 218,000 jobs, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services with 113,000 new jobs. The information and communications sector added 72,000 jobs, showcasing the growing demand in these areas.

Conversely, the manufacturing sector faced its sharpest decline in six years, losing 124,000 jobs, while the construction sector saw a decrease of 150,000 jobs, continuing a twelve-month downward trend.

Age and Employment Polarization

Employment among seniors aged 60 and older rose by 340,000, and those in their 30s saw an increase of 93,000 jobs. However, the youth demographic (aged 15-29) suffered the most, with a decrease of 174,000 jobs, highlighting the growing divide in the labor market.

Unemployment Rates and Worker Categories

The overall unemployment rate slightly decreased to 2.9%, with the number of unemployed individuals dropping by 31,000. Regular and temporary employees saw increases, while daily workers and unpaid family workers experienced declines.

A Statistics Korea official emphasized the need for policies to address the structural imbalances in the labor market, particularly in manufacturing, construction, and youth employment.