Last Year’s Unemployment Benefits Hit Record High of 12.2851 Trillion Won

15.53 Million Enrolled in Employment Insurance Last Year
Service Sector Grows While Manufacturing and Construction Decline

Last year, the total amount paid in job-seeking benefits (unemployment benefits) exceeded 12 trillion won, marking the highest level since related statistics began in 1997. Last month, the number of jobs available per job seeker was 0.39, the lowest since 2009.

On the 2nd, near Dongho Bridge in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, a subway and cars were running during rush hour.

According to the "Labor Market Trends Based on Employment Administration Statistics for December 2025," released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on January 12, the number of people enrolled in employment insurance last year reached 15,534,000, an increase of 174,000 (1.1%) from the previous year. The service sector (10,789,000) saw an increase of 195,000, but manufacturing (3,846,000) and construction (751,000) decreased by 3,000 and 19,000, respectively. The amount paid in job-seeking benefits reached 1,228.51 billion won, the highest since related statistics began in 1997.

Cheon Kyungki, Director of Future Employment Analysis at the Ministry of Labor, explained, "An increase in the amount of job-seeking benefits paid does not necessarily mean that the employment situation is deteriorating. While the number of recipients is decreasing overall, the total number of employment insurance subscribers is increasing, which can be interpreted as the continued expansion of social security coverage."

Last month, the number of people enrolled in employment insurance was 15,493,000, an increase of 182,000 (1.2%) compared to the same month last year. By industry, the number of service sector subscribers increased by 209,000 to 10,752,000. The increase was mainly driven by health and welfare, accommodation and food services, and professional and scientific services, while sectors such as wholesale and retail and information and communications saw decreases. The increase in subscribers has remained in the 200,000 range since November last year (208,000).

The manufacturing sector recorded 3,848,000 subscribers, a decrease of 14,000. While there were decreases in metal processing and machinery equipment, there were increases in food products, other transportation equipment, and pharmaceuticals, resulting in a smaller decrease than the previous month (-15,000). The construction sector (747,000) also decreased by 15,000, marking 29 consecutive months of decline, mainly in general construction. However, the decrease was 1,000 less than the previous month (-16,000).

The number of new job-seeking benefit applicants was 98,000, a decrease of 3,000 (3.3%). This was due to a reduction in the scale of sectors such as construction and accommodation and food services. The number of job-seeking benefit recipients was 527,000, a decrease of 4,000 (0.8%). The total amount paid was 813.6 billion won, an increase of 10.4 billion won (1.3%).

The number of new job postings using Employment24 was 169,000, an increase of 10,000 (6.5%). This was influenced by increases in health and welfare, business facilities, and public administration. New job seekers totaled 432,000, an increase of 39,000 (10.0%). The job openings-to-applicants ratio (number of jobs per job seeker) was 0.39, down by 0.01 points. This is the lowest level since December 2009 (0.39).