The era of 1.2 million 'youth unemployed'... 1 in 4 people work part-time even after getting a job500,000 people on leave, 'highest ever', 270,000 unemployed, 430,000 job seekers, even if they find a job with difficulty, they are not full-time 'gig workers'... 120,000 of them say, "I want to work more" February Employment Increases by 100,000 for Second Consecutive Month (Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hwa-young = The number of employed people continued to increase by 100,000 for the second consecutive month last month. According to the 'February Employment Trends' released by Statistics Korea on the 12th, the number of employed people aged 15 or older last month was 28,179,000, an increase of 136,000 compared to the same month last year. The photo is a guide board for the National Employment Support System posted at the Seoul Western Employment Center on the 12th. 2025.3.12 hwayoung7@yna.co.kr (Sejong = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Jae-hyun = It was revealed that the number of 'unemployed youth' who have lost their jobs, are preparing for employment, or are simply resting at home reached 1.2 million last month. Among the young people who had difficulty finding a job, one in four were 'short-term workers' with short working hours. According to the National Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) of Statistics Korea on the 15th, the number of unemployed youth aged 15 to 29 last month was 269,000. Compared to the same month last year (264,000 people), it increased by 5,000 people (2.0%) in one year. As of February, the number of unemployed youth decreased for three consecutive years from 416,000 in 2021, the COVID-19 era, to 295,000 in 2022, 291,000 in 2023, and 264,000 in 2024, before increasing again this year for the first time in four years. Even as the youth population rapidly declines, the number of young people unable to find jobs has actually increased. The number of economically inactive young people who are neither working nor seeking employment also increased by 15,000 from a year ago to 4.209 million. Among these, the number of young people who are 'just resting' without any particular activities reached 504,000, the highest number since statistics were first compiled in 2003. Among the economically inactive youth population, the number of 'job seekers' was also counted at 434,000. Specifically, 118,000 youths attended academies or institutions for employment other than regular educational institutions, and 316,000 youths were preparing for employment. The total number of young people who were unemployed among the economically active population, or who were ‘resting’ or ‘preparing for employment’ among the economically inactive population was 1.207 million. Compared to last year (1,134,000 people), it increased by more than 70,000 people in one year. The number of 'unemployed youth' who cannot find jobs has increased due to a combination of factors including slow economic growth, sluggish domestic demand, a recession in the manufacturing and construction industries, and companies' preference for experienced workers and new mid-career workers. Even for young people who have difficulty finding jobs, the situation is not easy. Among young people, 936,000 worked less than 36 hours per week. Considering that the number of employed young people was 3.557 million, one in four employed people are short-term workers called 'gig workers' rather than full-time workers who work five days a week. Some say that this reflects the phenomenon of preferring short-term work for reasons such as work-life balance, but the prevailing interpretation is that it is largely due to the disappearance of quality jobs available to young people. The number of young people who can work additional hours also increased by about 12,000 from a year ago to 121,000 last month. This is the highest figure for February since 2021 (152,000 people) when COVID-19 was spreading. Those who are eligible for additional employment related to time are those who responded to the survey by Statistics Korea, “I want to increase the hours of my current job,” “I want to do something other than my current job,” or “I want to change to a job (job) that allows me to work more hours.” Statistically, they are counted as employed, but because they often have temporary or short-term jobs, they are also called 'incompletely employed'. The number of young people working 'ultra-short-term' jobs, working 1 to 17 hours a week, reached 445,000, accounting for 12.5% of all employed people. trauma@yna.co.kr
