Non-Regular Workers Aged 60 and Over Surpass 3 Million for the First Time... Record Wage Gap of 1.81 Million Won with Regular Workers

Number of Non-Regular Workers Aged 60 and Over Increases by 233,000
Share Rises by 2.3 Percentage Points to 35.5%

As the number of non-regular workers reached an all-time high, the number of non-regular workers aged 60 and over surpassed 3 million for the first time. The wage gap between regular and non-regular workers reached 1,808,000 won, marking the largest disparity since related statistics began to be compiled.

Job seekers participating in the "Gyeonggi-do 5070 Job Fair" held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do on the 14th are receiving career coaching.

According to the "August 2025 Supplementary Survey on the Economically Active Population by Type of Employment" released by the National Data Agency on October 22, the number of non-regular workers as of August was 8,568,000, an increase of 110,000 from the same month last year. This is the largest number recorded since statistics began in 2003. Non-regular workers accounted for 38.2% of all wage workers (22,413,000), the same as the previous year. This was due not only to the increase in non-regular workers, but also to the number of regular workers (13,845,000) rising by 160,000.

By age group, the number of non-regular workers aged 60 and over was 3,044,000, an increase of 233,000. This is the first time the number has exceeded 3 million, setting a new record since statistics began in 2003. The proportion of those aged 60 and over among all non-regular workers was 35.5%, up 2.3 percentage points. Notably, the number of non-regular workers aged 70 and over was 1,205,000, similar to the number of those in their 40s (1,204,000).

The National Data Agency explained that the increase in non-regular workers is attributable to both the growing population in their 60s and the rising employment rate among this age group. In particular, many of those working in health and social welfare services, as well as in government direct job creation programs, are non-regular workers, which further contributes to this trend.

The average monthly wage of non-regular workers over the past three months was 2,088,000 won, up by 40,000 won. For regular workers, the average increased by 100,000 won over the same period, reaching 3,896,000 won. The wage gap between regular and non-regular workers reached 1,808,000 won, the largest ever recorded. According to the National Data Agency, the wage gap has continued to widen since 2004 (616,000 won). The wage level of non-regular workers was 53.6% of that of regular workers.