Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Korea adds 206,000 jobs in March, topping 200,000 for 2nd straight month: Data

Korea added 206,000 jobs in March, topping the 200,000 mark for the second consecutive month, though weakness in youth employment and the construction sector persisted, data showed Wednesday.

2026-04-15

Young Korean men lose ground in labor market with steepest OECD decline in last 20 years

The footing of young men in Korea's labor market is slipping, posting the steepest decline among member states of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development over the past two decades.

2026-04-14

More companies rehire retired employees as contractors as AI changes the workplace

An increasing number of companies are rehiring retired employees as skilled contract workers, reflecting aligned interests between firms seeking immediately deployable talent and workers hoping to maintain their income while easing their workload.

2026-04-08

Entry, mid-level white-collar jobs disappear as AI takes on the grunt work

In Korea’s corporate ladder, the middle rung is starting to wobble. Entry and mid-level white-collar jobs are shrinking as companies replace routine tasks with AI.

2026-04-03

30s are the new 20s for working women as 'M-shaped curve' flattens

Thirties are the new 20s, at least for working women, with the employment rate for women aged 30 to 34 exceeding that of 25-to-29-year-olds for the first time since 1995 last year, effectively eliminating the “M-shaped curve” phenomenon.

2026-04-02

Semiconductor firms to lead new grad hiring as chip supercycle widens recruitment plans

Korea’s electronics and chip companies are set to lead new college graduate hiring in 2026, a survey showed on Thursday, as a semiconductor supercycle is driving firms to expand recruitment plans.

2026-02-19

Job growth slows to weakest pace in 13 months

Job growth slowed to its weakest pace in 13 months in January, as youth employment remained weak and cold weather curbed hiring among older workers, government data showed on Wednesday.

2026-02-11

Jobs at major Korean firms drop 0.4% in 2025

Employment at Korea's 476 largest companies edged down 0.4 percent from a year earlier in 2025 as gains at K-beauty and semiconductor firms were offset by job cuts elsewhere, industry data showed Wednesday.

2026-02-11

Manufacturing sector is getting rid of the 'good jobs' that young people want

As companies automate and invest more in machines than in workers, stable full-time positions at large manufacturers are shrinking, making it harder for young people to enter the labor market.

2026-02-10

Gov't to form panel with labor, sparking concerns of union overinfluence

The Ministry of Employment and Labor decided to officially operate a consultative body to regularly discuss related policy with labor and management groups, starting with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, in an unprecedented move.

2026-02-09