In September, employment increased by 113,000, marking the third consecutive month of gains exceeding 100,000. While manufacturing jobs rose for the first time in 27 months, the hospitality and restaurant sectors saw their largest decline in over five years. The government is responding to ongoing youth employment challenges by preparing a 'National Job Project' aimed at creating both private and public sector jobs.
According to the National Data Agency's 'September 2026 Employment Trends' report released on the 16th, the number of employed individuals aged 15 and older reached 29,266,000, an increase of 113,000 compared to the same month last year. This increase was 71,000 less than the 184,000 rise recorded in August.
After a decrease of 40,000 in May, employment rebounded with an increase of 63,000 in June, followed by gains of 108,000 in July and 184,000 in August, resulting in three consecutive months of increases exceeding 100,000.
The government analyzed that the base effect from last September, when employment rose by 312,000, contributed to the smaller increase this year. Seasonally adjusted employment figures showed an increase of 40,000 from the previous month, totaling 28,985,000, marking four consecutive months of growth. Officials noted that this recovery aligns with the peak levels recorded before the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in February.
By industry, manufacturing jobs increased by 16,000, breaking a 26-month streak of declines since a 9,000 increase in June 2024. The government attributed this positive trend to sustained favorable business sentiment and the delayed positive impact of strong exports on employment.
Conversely, employment in the hospitality and restaurant sectors fell by 97,000, marking a second consecutive month of decline following a 61,000 drop in August. This decrease is the largest since February 2021, when it fell by 232,000.
Overall, employment in the service sector rose by 221,000, although this was a reduction from the 345,000 increase in August. The health and social welfare sectors saw an increase of 207,000 due to rising care demands, while transportation and warehousing, as well as finance and insurance, added 54,000 and 32,000 jobs, respectively. However, excluding public administration and health and welfare, service sector employment decreased by 13,000.
Construction employment fell by 48,000, a larger decline than the 32,000 drop in August. The government noted that while construction activity has turned positive, factors such as base effects, worsening material supply conditions, and rising construction costs have impacted employment. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing saw a decrease of 94,000, while educational services dropped by 53,000.
Youth employment challenges persisted, with 14,700 fewer jobs for those aged 15 to 29, marking the 47th consecutive month of decline. The youth employment rate fell to 44.0%, down 1.1 percentage points from the same month last year, continuing a downward trend for 29 months. The youth unemployment rate rose to 5.4%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points.
The government explained that the decline in hospitality and restaurant jobs, which employ a significant number of young people, has contributed to the drop in the youth employment rate. However, the number of young people classified as 'inactive' decreased by 44,000 to 364,000, marking an eight-month consecutive decline.
By age group, employment increased by 172,000 for those aged 60 and older, 81,000 for those in their 30s, and 48,000 for those in their 50s. In contrast, the number of jobs for those in their 20s and 40s fell by 170,000 and 42,000, respectively. The employment rate for those in their 40s rose by 0.5 percentage points to 80.9% as their population declined more than the number of employed.
In terms of employment status, the number of regular workers increased by 253,000, the largest rise since November of last year. The proportion of regular workers among all employed individuals rose to 57.8%, a 0.6 percentage point increase, reaching an all-time high for September. Meanwhile, the number of temporary and daily workers decreased by 81,000 and 55,000, respectively, with the decline widening.
Self-employed individuals with employees decreased by 8,000, while those without employees increased by 49,000. The number of unpaid family workers fell by 46,000.
The employment rate for those aged 15 and older was 63.5%, down 0.2 percentage points from the same month last year. The employment rate for those aged 15 to 64, as per OECD standards, rose by 0.2 percentage points to 70.6%, reaching an all-time high for September.
Total unemployment stood at 600,000, a decrease of 34,000. The unemployment rate fell to 2.0%, down 0.1 percentage points, marking the lowest level for September on record. The economically inactive population increased by 179,000 to 16,188,000, with the number of 'inactive' individuals decreasing by 25,000.
The government acknowledged that while the trend of increasing employment continues, challenges remain in youth employment and sectors such as construction and agriculture. Officials expressed concerns that rising tensions in the Middle East could pose ongoing downward risks.
In response, the government plans to implement the 'National Job Project,' which includes initiatives for job creation in both the private and public sectors. For industries experiencing employment difficulties, such as construction and agriculture, dedicated task forces will focus on revitalizing the sector, training personnel, and improving working conditions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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