Korea adds 354,000 jobs in April, manufacturing sees largest fall in 28 months

[Photo by Han Joo-hyung]

South Korea added more than 350,000 jobs in April from a year ago but the manufacturing sector continued to lose jobs amid sluggish exports.

According to data released by Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the total number of employed stood at 28,432,000 in April, up 354,000 from the same month in the previous year.

The gain was weaker than that in March but larger compared with February.

Payroll in Korea began to recover in March after slowing for nine straight months from June last year.

Those aged 60 or older added 442,000 jobs in April from a year ago while those in other age groups declined by 88,000.

The number of jobs for those aged between 15 and 29 fell 137,000, a sixth straight month of decline, while that of those in 40s declined for a 10th straight month by 22,000.

Those aged in their 30s and 50s, in the meantime, added 15,000 and 55,000 jobs, respectively.

By industry, the number of jobs in the manufacturing industry dropped 97,000 over the cited period, extending losses to a fourth month amid sluggish exports. The decline marked the largest in 28 months since December 2020.

Jobs in the accommodation and restaurant industry rose by 171,000, followed by the health and welfare sector with 148,000.

The number of regular workers surged by 464,000 in April, while the number of temporary workers fell by 100,000, and day jobs 76,000.

The employment rate for those aged 15 and older stood at 62.7 percent, up 0.6 percentage point from a year ago. This is the highest for the month of April since related data began to be compiled in July 1982.

The unemployed tally came to 804,000, down 59,000 from the previous year, the lowest record for the month of April since 2008. The unemployment rate was at 2.8 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The number of those who gave up on job-seeking stood at 324,000, down 107,000 from a year ago, data showed.