The Number of Restaurant Employees Decreased by 80,000 Due to COVID-19... Record High Decline

Statistics Korea Announces 'Characteristics of Employed Persons by Industry and Occupation in Regional Employment Survey for the First Half of 2020'

On the 14th, when the social distancing measures, which had been strengthened due to the resurgence of COVID-19, were downgraded to Level 2, a restaurant owner in Seoul prepared for business. Following the government's downgrade to Level 2 social distancing, franchise cafes, bakeries, and bingsu shops will be able to allow customers to sit and use the premises as before. General restaurants, snack bars, and bakeries, which were only allowed takeout and delivery after 9 p.m., will now be able to serve food inside the store regardless of the time. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] In the first half of this year, the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) dealt a direct blow to restaurants and academies, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of employees in related industries. This is the largest figure since the statistics began in the first half of 2013.

On the 20th, Statistics Korea announced the results of the "2020 First Half Regional Employment Survey: Characteristics of Employed Persons by Industry and Occupation," which contained this information.

When examining the total 26,562,000 employed persons in the first half of this year by industry sub-classification, 1,548,000 were employed in the restaurant industry, accounting for the largest share at 5.8% of the total.

However, this number decreased by 10.3% (179,000 persons) compared to one year ago, marking the largest decline since the statistics began in the first half of 2013.

Jung Dongwook, head of the Employment Statistics Division at Statistics Korea, said, "Due to the impact of COVID-19, face-to-face industries such as accommodation and food services were severely affected."

The number of employees in the building construction industry was 558,000, down 9.8% (61,000 persons) from one year earlier.

Additionally, the real estate-related service industry decreased by 25,000 persons, and pubs and non-alcoholic beverage establishments also declined by 22,000 persons.

Furthermore, among the 19,919,000 wage workers employed in the first half of this year, 8.9% earned a monthly average wage below 1 million KRW, and 22.6% earned between 1 million and less than 2 million KRW. Those earning between 2 million and less than 3 million KRW accounted for 32.5%, between 3 million and less than 4 million KRW were 17.1%, and those earning 4 million KRW or more were 18.9%.

Meanwhile, compared to the same period last year, the proportion of wage workers earning less than 1 million KRW decreased by 0.8 percentage points, and those earning between 1 million and less than 2 million KRW decreased by 1.7 percentage points.