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Korea records fastest growth in paid jobs in three quarters in Q3: Gov't

Published: 24 Feb. 2026, 14:23

Job seekers line up to sit for interviews at a job fair at Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center in Busan on Feb. 10. [YONHAP]

Korea recorded the fastest growth in wage jobs in three quarters during the third quarter of last year, driven by an increase in positions in the health and social welfare sector and for older workers, government data showed on Tuesday.

The number of wage employee positions stood at 20.92 million as of the end of August 2025, up 139,000 from a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marks the biggest on-year gain since the fourth quarter of 2024, when 153,000 positions were added.

The increase in wage jobs during the third quarter of 2025 was driven by employment growth in the health and social welfare sector, which added 129,000 positions compared to a year earlier.

In contrast, the construction industry shed 128,000 positions, remaining in negative terrain for the eighth consecutive quarter, amid an industry slump, according to the ministry.

A significant share of new positions was taken by older workers, reflecting the country's aging population.

The number of paid jobs for those in their 60s and older rose by 223,000, and those in their 30s and 50s saw increases of 85,000 and 18,000 jobs, respectively.

The slump in construction and manufacturing sectors hit youth employment hard, with 127,000 positions lost among workers in their 20s.

Employment for those in their 40s also declined, falling by 59,000.

Yonhap