(3rd LD) S. Korea adds 184,000 jobs in Aug., highest number in 5 months

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(ATTN: ADDS details, more info in last 2 paras) By Kang Yoon-seung

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 184,000 jobs in August from a year earlier, government data showed Wednesday, marking the largest increase in five months, while employment conditions remained challenging for young people.

The number of employed people came to 29.15 million in August, compared with 28.97 million a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marked the largest increase since 206,000 jobs were added on-year in March.

It also marked three consecutive months of gains and comes despite the manufacturing sector remaining sluggish. Job growth turned positive again in June after declining by 40,000 in May, the first drop in 17 months.

Books on Samsung Group's recruitment examination are displayed at a bookstore in Seoul on Sept. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)

The country's jobless rate came to 2 percent last month, unchanged from a year earlier. The number of unemployed people totaled 588,000 in August, down 4,000 from the same month in 2025.

South Korea's employment rate for those aged 15 and above came to 63.3 percent, remaining unchanged from the previous year.

The employment rate for people aged 15 to 29, however, came to 44.1 percent, down 1 percentage point from a year earlier, marking the 28th consecutive month of decline.

The employment rate for those aged 30 to 39 stood at 81.1 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from a year earlier.

By sector, the manufacturing sector lost 38,000 jobs, marking the 26th consecutive month of decline.

The agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry lost 109,000 jobs, and the construction industry shed 32,000 jobs.

The accommodation and restaurant sector shed 61,000 jobs, with the data ministry attributing the decline to the base effect from the distribution of government vouchers last year.

In contrast, the healthcare and social welfare sector added 186,000 positions, while the arts, sports and recreation-related services sector added 73,000 jobs.

"Jobs in sectors popular among young people, such as manufacturing, declined, leading to an overall decrease in the number of employed people in the age group," said Bin Hyun-joon, a senior statistics official.

"Amid the declining employment rate among young people, more people in the age group applied for police and local civil service examinations during the survey period," Bin added.

The number of economically inactive people rose by 77,000 from a year earlier to 16.29 million. The number of people reporting that they were not working and were simply resting, meanwhile, fell by 89,000 to 2.55 million.

The data ministry said those who had previously been simply resting gradually began looking for jobs, leading them to be classified as unemployed.

"While we need to take a wait-and-see approach to the recent decline in the number of young people who are simply resting, it could still be seen as a sign of recovery in the cycle of training, job searching and employment," the finance ministry said in a separate report.

"As key indicators for young people, including the number with jobs and the employment rate, remain sluggish, the government will focus on ensuring the decline in the number of those just resting translates into improved labor market conditions," it added.

Job seekers participate at a recruitment event held at a university in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan on Sept. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)

colin@yna.co.kr (END)

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(3rd LD) S. Korea adds 184,000 jobs in Aug., highest number in 5 months

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（注意：补充细节，更多信息请见最后两段）作者：康允胜

首尔，9月9日（韩联社）——韩国政府周三公布的数据显示，8月份韩国新增就业岗位18.4万个，创五个月来最大增幅，但年轻人的就业形势依然严峻。

根据国家统计局的数据，8月份就业人数为2915万人，而去年同期为2897万人。

这是自3月份新增就业岗位20.6万个以来的最大增幅。

尽管制造业依然疲软，但就业市场仍连续三个月实现增长。5月份就业人数减少4万人，这是17个月以来的首次下降，6月份就业增长再次转正。

2026年9月8日，首尔一家书店展示着三星集团招聘考试的书籍。（韩联社）

该国上月失业率为2%，与去年同期持平。8月份失业人数总计58.8万人，比2025年同期减少4000人。

韩国15岁及以上人口的就业率为63.3%，与上年持平。

然而，15 至 29 岁人群的就业率为 44.1%，比上年同期下降 1 个百分点，连续第 28 个月下降。

30至39岁人群的就业率为81.1%，比上年同期上升0.3个百分点。

按行业划分，制造业减少了 38,000 个工作岗位，连续第 26 个月出现下滑。

农业、林业和渔业部门失去了 109,000 个工作岗位，建筑业失去了 32,000 个工作岗位。

住宿和餐饮业减少了 61,000 个工作岗位，数据部将这一下降归因于去年政府发放代金券的基数效应。

相比之下，医疗保健和社会福利部门新增了 186,000 个职位，而艺术、体育和娱乐相关服务部门新增了 73,000 个职位。

“制造业等受年轻人欢迎的行业的就业机会减少，导致该年龄段就业人数总体下降，”高级统计官员闵贤俊表示。

“在青年就业率下降的情况下，调查期间，更多该年龄段的人报考了警察和地方公务员考试，”宾补充道。

经济不活跃人口数量比上年同期增加了7.7万人，达到1629万人。与此同时，报告称自己不工作、只是休息的人数减少了8.9万人，降至255万人。

数据部表示，那些之前只是休息的人逐渐开始寻找工作，因此被归类为失业人员。

财政部在另一份报告中表示：“虽然我们需要对近期年轻人闲置人数的下降采取观望态度，但这仍然可以被视为培训、求职和就业周期复苏的迹象。”

“由于包括就业人数和就业率在内的青年关键指标仍然疲软，政府将重点确保闲置人数的下降转化为劳动力市场状况的改善，”声明补充道。

2026年9月8日，求职者参加在韩国东南部城市庆山一所大学举行的招聘会。（韩联社）

colin@yna.co.kr (完)

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（第三条）韩国8月新增就业岗位18.4万个，创5个月以来新高