The number of employed people in September increased by more than 300,000, marking the largest rise in 19 months. The distribution of livelihood recovery consumption coupons led to a significant increase in employment in the service, wholesale and retail, and accommodation and food service sectors.
The Gangnam-gu Job Fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 5th is bustling with job seekers. 2025.06.05 Photo by Yoon Dongju
According to the “September Employment Trends” released by the National Data Office on the 17th, the number of employed people last month was 21,954,000, an increase of 312,000 compared to a year earlier. This is the largest increase in 19 months since February 2024, when the figure rose by 329,000. The growth in employment continued for three consecutive months in the 100,000 range, with increases of 183,000 in June, 171,000 in July, and 166,000 in August.
The number of employed people in the health and social welfare services sector (304,000, up 10.1%) increased by more than 300,000 for the second consecutive month, while employment also rose in the arts, sports, and leisure-related services sector (75,000, up 14.5%) and the education services sector (56,000, up 2.9%).
In particular, the number of employed people in the wholesale·accommodation and food service sector (26,000) turned positive, and the wholesale and retail sector also saw an increase of 28,000. The number of employed people in business facilities management, business support, and rental services rose by 19,000 compared to the same month last year. An official from Statistics Korea explained, “The shift to an increase in the business facilities, wholesale and retail, and accommodation and food service sectors contributed significantly to the overall rise,” adding, “The service sector appears to have been influenced by the distribution of consumption coupons.”
The number of employed people in the construction sector decreased by 84,000 compared to the same period last year, continuing a decline for the 17th consecutive month due to the downturn in the construction market. However, the decrease was much smaller than in August, when it dropped by 132,000. The number of employed people in the manufacturing sector also fell by 61,000 in September, marking a decline for 15 consecutive months.
By age group, employment increased by 381,000 among those aged 60 and over and by 133,000 among those in their 30s. However, it decreased by 134,000 among those in their 20s, by 45,000 among those in their 40s, and by 11,000 among those in their 50s. The number of employed young people (aged 15-29) fell by 146,000 compared to the same month last year.
The employment rate (for those aged 15 and over) stood at 70.4%, up 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier, the highest since relevant records began in 1989. However, the youth employment rate was 45.1%, down 0.7 percentage points from a year earlier. The September unemployment rate was also the lowest ever recorded for the month of September at 2.1%. The economically active population, which includes both employed and unemployed people, was 29,788,000, an increase of 324,000 from a year earlier and the highest ever recorded for September. The economically inactive population was 16,009,000, a decrease of 116,000 from a year earlier.
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