The average monthly wage gap between regular and irregular workers has widened to 1.94 million won. While regular workers' wages increased by 4.0% compared to the previous year, irregular workers saw only a 1.1% rise. Even when excluding part-time workers, the wage growth rate for irregular workers was just 2.0%, highlighting a clear disparity.
According to the National Data Agency's "August 2026 Economic Activity Population Survey Supplementary Results by Employment Type," the average monthly wage for regular workers over the past three months was 4,052,000 won, an increase of 156,000 won (4.0%) from the same period last year. In contrast, irregular workers earned an average of 2,112,000 won, up only 24,000 won (1.1%). The wage gap between the two groups stands at 1.94 million won, with both the increase amount and growth rate favoring regular workers.
Even when excluding part-time workers, the wage growth rate for irregular workers remained lower than that of regular workers. The average monthly wage for irregular workers, excluding part-timers, was 3,098,000 won, reflecting a 61,000 won (2.0%) increase from the previous year. The number of part-time workers rose to 4,382,000, an increase of 152,000 from the same month last year.
There was also a significant difference in working hours. Regular workers averaged 40.4 hours per week, while irregular workers averaged 29.5 hours. This represents an increase of 3.9 hours and 1.3 hours, respectively, compared to the previous year. The average tenure for irregular workers at their current jobs is three years, an increase of one month. The proportion of irregular workers who voluntarily chose their employment type rose to 68.0%, a 0.2 percentage point increase.
However, the rise in voluntary choice does not necessarily indicate an overall improvement in working conditions. When examining welfare benefit rates and social insurance enrollment, regular workers' figures were more than double those of irregular workers, and the trends showed clear improvement.
The welfare benefit rates for irregular workers fell across the board compared to the same month last year. The retirement benefit rate was 45.7%, bonuses were 39.2%, overtime pay was 31.1%, and paid holidays were 38.4%, each decreasing by 0.3, 0.5, 0.1, and 0.6 percentage points, respectively. In contrast, regular workers saw increases in retirement benefits (96.2%), bonuses (89.5%), overtime pay (69.9%), and paid holidays (88.3%), rising by 0.6, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.1 percentage points, respectively.
Differences were also evident in social insurance enrollment rates. The enrollment rate for the National Pension among irregular workers was 36.5%, and for health insurance, it was 53.0%, both down by 0.6 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively. The employment insurance enrollment rate for irregular workers was 54.0%, up by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, regular workers had enrollment rates of 88.6% for the National Pension, 95.7% for health insurance, and 93.0% for employment insurance, all showing increases from the previous year.
By gender, there were 4,963,000 female irregular workers, outnumbering male irregular workers (3,708,000) by 1,255,000. The proportion of women among irregular workers was 57.2%, down by 0.2 percentage points from the previous year, but still above half. Among age groups, the proportion of workers aged 60 and older increased to 36.7% (3.18 million), up by 1.2 percentage points from the same month last year.
A Ministry of Finance official commented on the wage gap, stating, "We must consider the increase in part-time workers among irregular workers. The average monthly wage does not account for the number of working days or hours, and part-time workers typically have shorter hours, leading to lower wages." Regarding the rise in irregular workers, the official noted, "The increase in the proportion of irregular workers is likely influenced by the growing number of older workers aged 60 and above and those in the health and social welfare sectors."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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