Announcement of Employment Characteristics by Industry and Occupation
Ages 15?29 Mainly Work in Restaurant and Bar Industry
15.8% of Older Workers Employed in Social Welfare Services
As the demand for care services increases due to an aging population, the number of people employed in the "non-residential welfare facility operation industry," which includes senior day care centers and home-visit welfare services, reached a record high of 1,688,000 in the first half of the year.
On the 28th, the National Data Agency announced the "2025 Regional Employment Survey - Characteristics of Employed Persons by Industry and Occupation" containing these findings.
According to the sub-industry classification for the first half of the year, the number of people employed in the non-residential welfare facility operation industry was 1,688,000 (5.8%), followed by the restaurant industry with 1,662,000 (5.8%), and crop cultivation with 1,260,000 (4.4%). While employment increased in the non-residential welfare facility operation industry (135,000) and residential welfare facility operation industry (32,000), it decreased in crop cultivation (-115,000) and building construction (-69,000).
An official from Statistics Korea explained, "The number of people employed in the non-residential welfare facility operation industry is the largest on record for the first half of the year since statistics were first compiled in 2017." The official added, "Within the health and social welfare services sector, the non-residential welfare facility operation industry accounts for the highest proportion and is showing growth. This category mainly includes facilities related to the increased demand for care due to an aging population, such as senior day care centers and home-visit welfare services."
Looking at the number of employees by mid-industry classification, the restaurant and bar industry had the most with 2,144,000 (7.4%), followed by retail trade (excluding automobiles) with 1,945,000 (6.7%), and social welfare services with 1,930,000 (6.7%). While employment increased in social welfare services (167,000) and education services (68,000), it decreased in agriculture (-126,000) and specialized construction (-76,000).
When breaking down employment by age group within the mid-industry classification, among those aged 15-29, the restaurant and bar industry had the highest number of employees at 587,000 (16.2%), though this figure decreased by 44,000 compared to the same period last year. This was followed by retail trade (excluding automobiles) with 320,000 (8.8%) and education services with 297,000 (8.2%).
Among those aged 60 and over, social welfare services had the highest number of employees at 1,089,000 (15.8%), followed by agriculture with 1,037,000 (15.0%) and the restaurant and bar industry with 430,000 (6.2%). Employment in social welfare services alone increased by 129,000, while employment in agriculture decreased by 72,000.
Based on major industry classification and by employment status, among wage workers (22,415,000), manufacturing accounted for 17.8%. Among non-wage workers (6,472,000), agriculture, forestry, and fisheries accounted for 20.7%. For regular workers (16,677,000), manufacturing made up 22.1%, while for temporary and daily workers (5,738,000), health and social welfare services accounted for 18.9%.
In the first half of the year, 30.6% of wage workers earned between 2 million and 3 million won per month, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points from the same period last year. This was followed by those earning between 3 million and 4 million won (22.4%), over 5 million won (16.3%), between 4 million and 5 million won (11.2%), between 1 million and 2 million won (9.9%), and less than 1 million won (9.6%). Except for the group earning less than 1 million won (which decreased by 0.8 percentage points), all other income brackets saw a slight increase in proportion.
Among those earning between 2 million and 3 million won, a high proportion worked in business facility management, business support and rental services (46.3%), and real estate (40.3%). Among those earning over 5 million won, a high proportion worked in finance and insurance (37.2%) and professional, scientific, and technical services (35.9%). Those earning less than 1 million won were mainly employed in health and social welfare services (28.9%) and accommodation and food services (23.8%).
An official from Statistics Korea stated, "A significant portion of those earning less than 1 million won are part-time workers." The official continued, "In the case of government direct job creation projects for seniors, such as those working through social welfare centers, these are mainly classified as health and social welfare services. Since these individuals usually work for a short period, a considerable number fall into the group earning less than 1 million won."
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