Yangsan-si Maintains Low Unemployment Rate and Stable Employment Environment

Unemployment Rate at 1.9%, the Lowest Among City-Level Local Governments in Gyeongnam Province
Youth Employment Rate Rises by 2.3% Compared to 2023, Marking a Positive Change

Yangsan City in Gyeongnam Province has been found to maintain a stable employment environment with the lowest unemployment rate among city-level local governments in the province.

According to the recently released 2024 second half regional employment survey by Statistics Korea, Yangsan City's unemployment rate was 1.9%, the lowest among city-level local governments in Gyeongnam, and lower than the average rate of 3%.

In particular, the youth (ages 15?29) employment rate showed a positive change, rising by 2.3% compared to 2023, and the economic activity participation rate is also gradually increasing. This indicates that Yangsan's economy is maintaining a stable employment environment, reflecting ongoing attraction of businesses and industrial development within the region.

The employment rate (ages 15?64), which is on an upward trend, is also notable. While employment rates (ages 15?64) in other areas of Gyeongnam Province are declining, Yangsan City’s rate has been steadily increasing.

Although the continuous influx of population from other regions and the manufacturing-centered local industrial structure have sometimes caused the relative simple figures to appear low, the overall employment rate trend is analyzed as positive.

In fact, Yangsan has a manufacturing-centered industrial structure, and the proportion of agricultural workers is 1.1%, significantly lower than the provincial average of 7.5%. This can result in lower employment rate figures compared to other regions with a higher number of agricultural workers.

Especially, in other cities and counties within Gyeongnam, the proportion of people aged 55 and over engaged in agriculture is high, leading to relatively higher employment rates in that age group. However, Yangsan’s manufacturing-centered economy offers fewer employment opportunities for the elderly, resulting in a structurally lower employment rate.

Additionally, Yangsan is experiencing a rapid influx of population due to the development of new towns, with a significant portion being elderly people aged 65 and over who have settled after retirement. This population increase affects employment rate statistics. To encourage economic participation among the elderly, Yangsan is promoting job projects for seniors, including adding 100 positions in the public road sector for older adults.

A Yangsan city official stated, “Yangsan’s unemployment rate is lower than the average for cities and counties in Gyeongnam, strongly indicating the stability of the local economy,” and emphasized, “The 2.3% increase in youth employment rate shows that youth employment policies are proving effective.”

He added, “Going forward, Yangsan will continue to implement tailored economic policies and job creation strategies suited to various groups such as youth, the elderly, and women, as well as to the industrial structure and demographic characteristics. Through these policies, we aim to provide more quality job opportunities to citizens and lead sustainable growth of the local economy.”