Rapid Increase in Proportion of Those Aged 60 and Over Surpasses 10-20s
"Aging Due to Young Generation's Aversion to Manufacturing Jobs"
The age group of manufacturing industry workers is rapidly increasing, with the number of elderly workers surpassing that of young workers for the first time.
According to the microdata from the Statistics Korea's Economically Active Population Survey on the 14th, the number of manufacturing workers aged 60 and over last year was recorded at 599,000. This is an increase of 51,000 compared to the previous year. On the other hand, those aged 20 and under decreased by 33,000 from the previous year to 555,000, which is 44,000 fewer than those aged 60 and over.
It is the first time since the industrial classification reform in 2014 that the number of manufacturing workers aged 60 and over exceeded those in their teens and twenties.
The number of workers aged 60 and over surged by 368,000 from 231,000 in 2014 to 599,000 last year. Their share of the total also rose from 5.2% in 2014 to 10% in 2021, and 13.4% last year.
By sector, those aged 60 and over mainly work in food manufacturing, other machinery and equipment, and metal processed products, and are more likely to be employed in small and medium-sized enterprises rather than large corporations.
The number of workers in their 50s also increased by 48,000 from 1,036,000 in 2014 to 1,084,000 last year. In contrast, those in their 30s and 40s saw significant decreases, with the 30s age group showing the largest decline, dropping by 190,000 from 1,247,000 in 2014 to 1,057,000 last year.
The 40s age group also decreased by 154,000 over nine years, recording 1,165,000 last year. Those aged 20 and under declined by 70,000 from 625,000 in 2014 to 555,000 last year.
Looking at changes by age group, the past nine years show a division centered around the 50s. Those aged 50 and above increased, while those 40 and under decreased, which is analyzed to be due to population aging and an increase in working elderly people.
Additionally, the reluctance of younger generations to work in manufacturing sites has been pointed out as a cause of difficulties in hiring new employees. Manufacturing, which has long been considered the industry with the highest youth employment, is seeing a decline in workers due to young people avoiding manufacturing and a decrease in high school graduate youth employment. As a result, it is analyzed that existing workers have aged and continue to work.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
