Korea Adds 292,000 Wage Jobs in Q1, Led by Welfare and Hospitality
Key Takeaways
- •Korea's salaried job total reached 20.82 million as of February 2026, an increase of 292,000 from a year earlier.
- •Health and social welfare added 127,000 jobs and accommodation and food services gained 59,000, while construction lost 52,000 and manufacturing declined by 1,000.
- •Within manufacturing, the chip industry added 5,000 wage jobs, offset partly by losses of 3,000 in textile dyeing and 2,000 in communications and broadcasting equipment.
- •Labor-market churn was limited, as 74 percent of jobs were held by the same workers as a year earlier, 15.3 percent were refilled by new workers, and only 10.7 percent were newly created.
- •Workers aged 60 and older gained 233,000 wage jobs, while employment for people in their 20s and younger fell by 76,000.
Job seekers are seen submitting documents and receiving assistance at an employment center in Mapo District, Seoul, Aug. 5. Yonhap
Korea added 292,000 wage jobs in the first quarter of 2026, driven by gains in the health and social welfare, accommodation, and food service sectors, while manufacturing and construction lost ground, official data showed Monday.
The number of salaried jobs stood at 20.82 million as of February, up 292,000 from a year earlier, the Ministry of Data and Statistics said.
The figures underscore how job growth continues to be concentrated in services tied to care and consumption, while industries more sensitive to investment and building activity remained under pressure. The report also suggests a labor market with a large share of existing positions carried by the same workers, rather than broad-based churn.
According to the latest findings, 74 percent of the jobs were held by the same workers as a year earlier, while 15.3 percent were filled by new workers after the previous jobholders retired or changed jobs.
The report showed that 10.7 percent of the jobs were newly created following the establishment of new businesses or business expansions.
By sector, jobs in health and social welfare rose by 127,000, while those in accommodation and food services increased by 59,000.
In contrast, manufacturing wage jobs declined by 1,000, and those in the construction industry dropped by 52,000.
Within manufacturing, the chip industry added 5,000 wage jobs, while the textile dyeing segment lost 3,000. The communications and broadcasting equipment industry also shed 2,000 jobs.
By age group, wage jobs for people in their 20s and younger fell by 76,000, while those for people in their 40s declined by 19,000.
Wage jobs for people in their 60s and older, 30s, and 50s increased by 233,000, 115,000 and 40,000, respectively.
