Youth Employment Hits Record High... 1 in 10 Works in Simple Labor Jobs

Although employment indicators for the youth aged 15 to 29 recently reached an all-time high, concerns have emerged that the quality of employment may deteriorate due to an increase in simple labor jobs such as delivery riders.

Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the microdata from the Statistics Korea Economically Active Population Survey on the 17th, the average monthly number of employed youth last year was 3,899,000, of which 349,000 were in simple labor jobs.

Last year, the number of employed youth decreased by 5,000 compared to 2018 due to factors such as population decline, but the number of youth in simple labor jobs increased by about 20,000 during the same period. Accordingly, the proportion of simple labor jobs among employed youth rose from 8.4% in 2018 to 9.0% last year.

In 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic transitioned to an endemic phase, the proportion of youth in simple labor jobs surged to 10.1% (403,000). This means that 1 in 10 employed youth between 2022 and 2023 worked in simple labor positions.

The increase in simple labor jobs is particularly noticeable among those aged 30 and under. Comparing the proportion of simple labor jobs by age group as of August between 2018 and last year, only the youth group (8.5→9.1%) and those in their 30s (6.0→7.2%) showed an upward trend. Meanwhile, the proportions decreased in the 40s (8.8→8.3%), 50s (14.5→13.1%), and 60 and above (29.7→28.5%) age groups.

Looking at youth simple labor jobs by industry, the increase in transportation and warehousing, including delivery services, is overwhelming. Simple labor jobs in transportation and warehousing include delivery riders, cargo loading and unloading, and carrying. The number of youth simple labor workers in transportation and warehousing rose from 36,000 in 2018 to 60,000 last year, an increase of 24,000 (66.7%), exceeding the total increase in youth simple labor jobs (20,000).

As a result, the proportion of transportation and warehousing workers among all youth simple labor jobs increased from 10.9% to 17.1% during the same period. This can be interpreted as more young people starting their social lives in platform labor, which is relatively easy to enter but offers low average income and less stability.

Although the government emphasizes the 'highest-ever employment rate' every month, there are criticisms that it is difficult to guarantee improvements in the quality of employment.

Last year, the youth employment rate was 46.5%, marking the highest level since 2000 for two consecutive years following 46.6% the previous year. The unemployment rate was 5.9%, the lowest ever recorded.

A Statistics Korea official said, "It appears that the increase in youth simple labor jobs in transportation and warehousing is due to the rise in delivery rider jobs."