Amid rising uncertainty across the region and industries, the employment rate in Gyeongnam reached an all-time high of 63.0% in July.
According to the "July 2025 Employment Trends in Gyeongsangnam-do" released by Statistics Korea on August 13, the employment rate in Gyeongnam for July was 63.0%, up 1.0 percentage point from July of last year. The labor force participation rate was 63.3%, representing a 2.0 percentage point increase over the same period.
The number of employed people reached 1.79 million, an increase of 35,000, or 2.0%, compared to July last year.
By industry, employment continued to perform well, particularly in manufacturing and business, personal, and public services. The number of workers in wholesale and retail, as well as accommodation and food services, also increased.
The construction sector, which had experienced prolonged sluggishness, has now seen an increase in employment for three consecutive months since the turnaround in May, when the number of employed people rose for the first time in 33 months. Compared to the same month last year, employment in construction increased by 12,000, remaining unchanged from the previous month.
By employment status, the number of non-wage workers increased by 10,000 compared to the same month last year, while wage workers rose by 25,000.
Among wage workers, the number of regular employees increased by 15,000, temporary workers by 1,000, and daily workers by 9,000.
Cho Hyunjun, Director of Economic and Trade Affairs for Gyeongnam Province, stated, "It is fortunate that the shipbuilding and defense industries, as well as manufacturing, have provided a stable foundation for regional employment despite high tariff policies." He added, "We will continue to strengthen support for sectors experiencing employment slowdowns, such as steel and auto parts, which have been directly impacted by high tariffs."
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