Last month, six out of ten new workers were temporary employees, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The increase in regular workers slowed compared to the previous month, while the construction and retail sectors saw declines in employment. After four consecutive months of decline, real wages increased in August.
The Ministry's 'September 2026 Business Labor Force Survey' revealed that as of the last business day of last month, the number of employees in businesses with at least one worker reached 20,748,000, an increase of 209,000 (1.0%) compared to the same month last year. This increase was smaller than the 233,000 recorded in August.
By employment status, the number of temporary workers rose to 2,068,000, up 123,000 (6.3%) from a year earlier, accounting for 58.9% of the total increase in employment.
Regular workers numbered 17,311,000, an increase of 73,000 (0.4%). This was a decrease from the 92,000 increase in August, with the growth rate dropping from 0.5% to 0.4%. Other workers increased by 13,000 (0.9%) to 1,369,000.
In terms of industry, the health and social welfare sector saw an increase of 113,000 (4.3%), contributing to more than half of the total employment increase. The finance and insurance sector added 28,000 (3.2%), while professional, scientific, and technical services grew by 27,000 (2.0%).
Conversely, the retail sector lost 23,000 (1.0%) jobs, and the construction sector saw a decline of 14,000 (1.0%). This marked the second consecutive month of job losses in construction, with the decline widening from 1,000 in August. The arts, sports, and leisure services sector also experienced a decrease of 8,000 (2.4%).
Manufacturing, which accounts for about 18% of total employment, added 14,000 jobs, marking nine consecutive months of growth. However, this increase was smaller than the 17,000 jobs added in August. Regular workers in manufacturing have decreased for 14 consecutive months, with the rise in temporary workers boosting overall employment numbers.
Within manufacturing, the electronics, computer, video, audio, and communication equipment sector added 9,000 jobs, while other transportation equipment manufacturing increased by 6,000. However, the rubber and plastic products manufacturing sector and the clothing and accessory manufacturing sector each saw declines of 3,000 jobs.
Both new hires and separations increased. In September, new hires totaled 1,078,000, up 123,000 (12.9%) from the same month last year, while separations rose by 160,000 (18.6%) to 1,022,000. The hiring rate was 5.6%, and the separation rate was 5.3%, both up by 0.6 percentage points and 0.8 percentage points, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Wages, adjusted for inflation, increased for the first time in five months. In August, the average monthly wage for workers in businesses with at least one regular employee was 4,093,000 won, an increase of 155,000 won (3.9%) from the same month last year. Real wages rose to 3,409,000 won, up 28,000 won (0.8%), breaking a four-month streak of declines.
The average monthly wage for regular workers increased by 4.8% to 4,382,000 won, while temporary workers saw a 1.3% increase to 1,694,000 won. The rise in regular worker wages was influenced by a 32.4% increase in special payments due to changes in the timing of these payments.
The 'April 2026 Employment Statistics by Industry' report released on the same day also highlighted employment struggles in the construction sector. As of the end of April, the number of workers in indoor construction and finishing trades decreased by 36,000 compared to the same month last year, while the building construction sector lost 24,000 jobs. In contrast, the operation of non-residential welfare facilities saw an increase of 71,000 jobs, and employment services and staffing agencies added 32,000 jobs.
The Ministry's 'September 2026 Business Labor Force Survey' revealed that as of the last business day of last month, the number of employees in businesses with at least one worker reached 20,748,000, an increase of 209,000 (1.0%) compared to the same month last year. This increase was smaller than the 233,000 recorded in August.
By employment status, the number of temporary workers rose to 2,068,000, up 123,000 (6.3%) from a year earlier, accounting for 58.9% of the total increase in employment.
Regular workers numbered 17,311,000, an increase of 73,000 (0.4%). This was a decrease from the 92,000 increase in August, with the growth rate dropping from 0.5% to 0.4%. Other workers increased by 13,000 (0.9%) to 1,369,000.
In terms of industry, the health and social welfare sector saw an increase of 113,000 (4.3%), contributing to more than half of the total employment increase. The finance and insurance sector added 28,000 (3.2%), while professional, scientific, and technical services grew by 27,000 (2.0%).
Conversely, the retail sector lost 23,000 (1.0%) jobs, and the construction sector saw a decline of 14,000 (1.0%). This marked the second consecutive month of job losses in construction, with the decline widening from 1,000 in August. The arts, sports, and leisure services sector also experienced a decrease of 8,000 (2.4%).
Manufacturing, which accounts for about 18% of total employment, added 14,000 jobs, marking nine consecutive months of growth. However, this increase was smaller than the 17,000 jobs added in August. Regular workers in manufacturing have decreased for 14 consecutive months, with the rise in temporary workers boosting overall employment numbers.
Within manufacturing, the electronics, computer, video, audio, and communication equipment sector added 9,000 jobs, while other transportation equipment manufacturing increased by 6,000. However, the rubber and plastic products manufacturing sector and the clothing and accessory manufacturing sector each saw declines of 3,000 jobs.
Both new hires and separations increased. In September, new hires totaled 1,078,000, up 123,000 (12.9%) from the same month last year, while separations rose by 160,000 (18.6%) to 1,022,000. The hiring rate was 5.6%, and the separation rate was 5.3%, both up by 0.6 percentage points and 0.8 percentage points, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Wages, adjusted for inflation, increased for the first time in five months. In August, the average monthly wage for workers in businesses with at least one regular employee was 4,093,000 won, an increase of 155,000 won (3.9%) from the same month last year. Real wages rose to 3,409,000 won, up 28,000 won (0.8%), breaking a four-month streak of declines.
The average monthly wage for regular workers increased by 4.8% to 4,382,000 won, while temporary workers saw a 1.3% increase to 1,694,000 won. The rise in regular worker wages was influenced by a 32.4% increase in special payments due to changes in the timing of these payments.
The 'April 2026 Employment Statistics by Industry' report released on the same day also highlighted employment struggles in the construction sector. As of the end of April, the number of workers in indoor construction and finishing trades decreased by 36,000 compared to the same month last year, while the building construction sector lost 24,000 jobs. In contrast, the operation of non-residential welfare facilities saw an increase of 71,000 jobs, and employment services and staffing agencies added 32,000 jobs.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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