184,000 More People Enrolled in Employment Insurance
Construction Industry Sees 21 Consecutive Months of Decline
103,000 New Applicants for Job-Seeking Benefits
Job Openings-to-Applicants Ratio Drops by 0.16 Points to 0.43
Amid a sluggish economy, both the number of unemployment benefit (job-seeking benefit) recipients and the total amount paid last month reached their highest levels since April 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The job openings-to-applicants ratio, which indicates the number of jobs available per job seeker, was the lowest for any April since 2020.
Job seekers visiting the 2025 Mid-sized Companies Job Fair held last month at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are looking over the job posting board.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's "Labor Market Trends Based on Employment Administration Statistics for April 2025," released on May 12, the number of regular employment insurance subscribers at the end of last month was 15,538,000, an increase of 184,000 (1.2%) compared to the same month last year. This is the smallest increase for any April since 2020, when the figure rose by 163,000.
By industry, the number of subscribers in manufacturing (3,849,000) and services (10,788,000) increased by 6,000 and 198,000, respectively. In manufacturing, the increase was centered on automobiles and other transportation equipment, while in services, it was mainly in health and welfare, and business services. In construction (754,000), the number of subscribers fell by 20,000, mainly in general construction, marking a decline for the 21st consecutive month.
By age group, due to demographic changes and population aging, the number of subscribers increased among those in their 30s (71,000), 50s (56,000), and those aged 60 and over (189,000). In contrast, the number of subscribers decreased among those aged 29 and under (-93,000) and those in their 40s (-40,000) due to population decline. The decrease among those aged 29 and under was particularly pronounced in information and communications, wholesale and retail, and manufacturing, while for those in their 40s, the decline was seen in construction, wholesale and retail, and manufacturing.
The number of new applicants for job-seeking benefits increased by 2,000 (2.0%) to 103,000, mainly due to manufacturing. The number of job-seeking benefit recipients rose by 4,000 (6.1%) to 703,000. This is the highest figure for any April since 2021, when the number was 739,000. The total amount paid increased by 10.25 billion won (9.7%) to 1.1571 trillion won, the highest for any April since 2021, when the amount was 1.158 trillion won.
Last month, the number of new job openings posted through Employment24 was 165,000, a decrease of 54,000 (-24.6%). Job openings decreased in manufacturing (-27,000), health and welfare (-5,000), wholesale and retail (-4,000), and construction (-4,000).
The number of new job seekers increased by 16,000 (4.2%) to 386,000. The job openings-to-applicants ratio, which represents the number of jobs available per job seeker, fell by 0.16 points to 0.43. This is the lowest figure for any April since 2020, when the ratio was 0.34.
Chun Kyungki, Director of Future Employment Analysis at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, commented, "The increase in employment insurance subscribers in April is gradually expanding, and the situation regarding job-seeking benefits is slightly easing compared to last month. The number of employed people in March also increased by about 190,000, so the current situation does not show signs of deterioration."
He added, "Jobs in the service sector are gradually increasing. Although it is uncertain whether this trend will continue, demand for health and care services continues to grow, and while the increases in other industries are not large, there is a slight overall upward trend."
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