Employment Rate in Cities and Counties Hits Record High in the Second Half of Last Year

Statistics Korea Announces '2021 Second Half Regional Employment Survey: Key Employment Indicators by Si-Gun-Gu'

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] In the second half of last year, the employment rate in city and county areas reached an all-time high. On the other hand, regions with a high proportion of actively job-seeking youth or developed manufacturing industries showed higher unemployment rates.

According to the '2021 Second Half Regional Employment Survey Major Employment Indicators by City, County, and District' released by Statistics Korea on the 22nd, the employment rate in city areas of nine provinces nationwide in the second half of 2021 (October) rose by 1.1 percentage points from the same period the previous year to 60.6%, the highest level since statistics began in 2013.

Statistics Korea conducts sample surveys twice a year, in April and October, based on residents' locations to announce major employment statuses by city, county, and district.

The employment rate in county areas of the nine provinces also recorded the highest level since 2013 at 68.1%. The employment rate in district areas of seven metropolitan cities was recorded at 56.7%.

The number of employed persons increased by 1.1% year-on-year to 13,428,000 in city areas and 2,089,000 in county areas.

The economically inactive population decreased by 30,000 in city areas to 8,294,000 and by 33,000 in county areas to 952,000 compared to the previous year. However, the economically inactive population aged 60 and over in city areas increased by 129,000.

Among the city areas of the nine provinces, regions where the proportion of employed persons based on workplace was lower than that based on residence included Osan-si in Gyeonggi (-19.7 percentage points) and Suncheon-si in Jeonnam (-10.5 percentage points). This indicates these are "bed towns" with a high proportion of people commuting to areas other than their residence.

Both the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate significantly decreased in city and county areas.

The unemployment rate in city areas of the nine provinces nationwide was 3.1%, down 0.8 percentage points from the same period last year. The unemployment rate in county areas of the nine provinces was 1.2%, also down 0.3 percentage points year-on-year.

In contrast, the unemployment rate in district areas of seven metropolitan cities, surveyed since the first half of last year, was relatively high at 4.0%. Especially, Gwanak-gu in Seoul (5.9%), Dongnae-gu in Busan (5.1%), and Namdong-gu in Incheon (4.9%) had high unemployment rates. In city areas of the nine provinces, Siheung-si in Gyeonggi (5.3%), Geoje-si in Gyeongnam (4.5%), and Wonju-si in Gangwon (4.0%) had high unemployment rates. In county areas of the nine provinces, Chilgok-gun in Gyeongbuk (3.1%), Jeungpyeong-gun in Chungbuk (2.6%), and Yeoncheon-gun in Gyeonggi (2.2%) had high unemployment rates.

Kim Kyunghee, head of the Employment Statistics Division at Statistics Korea, explained, "Regions with a high proportion of youth, areas with an influx of people aged 30 to 50, and regions where manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and food service industries are developed tend to have active job-seeking activities, resulting in higher unemployment rates."