Employment among people in their 20s falls at fastest pace since 1998

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- The number of employed people in their 20s fell at the fastest pace this year since the 1998 Asian financial crisis, data showed Sunday, amid a trend toward entering the labor market at a later age.

The number of employed people in their 20s averaged 3.38 million in the January-August period, down 193,000 from the same period a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS).

The decline was the steepest since 1998, when the figure plunged by 550,000 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.

Job information pamphlets are displayed at a university career support center in Seoul on Sept. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

The employment slump was more pronounced than the decline in the age group's population.

The population of the age group fell 3.5 percent on-year to an average 5.55 million, while the number of employed dropped 5.6 percent.

As a result, their employment rate fell 1.3 percentage points to 59.1 percent, slipping below 60 percent for the first time in five years.

In contrast, employment among people in their 30s strengthened.

The population of the age group rose by 83,000 on-year to 6.94 million, while the number of employed increased by 103,000 to 5.6 million.

Their employment rate rose to 80.9 percent, extending its upward trend for the fifth consecutive year since 2022.

Analysts say the diverging trends may partly reflect a shift toward later entry into the labor market among younger people.

ejkim@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) S. Korea's economic recovery remains solid, led by exports: finance ministry

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

Gov't vows efforts to address job challenges for vulnerable groups

BTS concludes N. American tour with record-breaking LA shows

BTS' Jungkook hits 500 mln Spotify streams with self-written 'Still With You'

(LEAD) Philippine defense chief slams China over audience note on South China Sea at Seoul forum

Son Ye-jin returns to historical drama in remake of 'The Scandal'

Corporate response team continues search for 9 S. Koreans missing in Nepal floods

(News Focus) S. Korea faces high-stakes decision on potential Hormuz Strait deployment

'The Odyssey' tops weekend box office for 5th week

(2nd LD) S. Korea's nominal GDP grows at fastest pace in 47 years in Q2; $40,000 per capita GNI on track

(3rd LD) N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

Cheong Wa Dae denounces N.K. missile launch as violation of UNSC resolution

(2nd LD) N. Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

S. Korean container ship arrives in Britain via Arctic route in 21 days

U.S. lawmaker calls on State Dept. to revise policy on N. Korea travel ban

Giant panda cub named Shu Bao

Anti-terrorism drill in S. Korea

S. Korea's 2nd disaster relief team arrives in Nepal

Ahead of Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Employment among people in their 20s falls at fastest pace since 1998

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，9月13日（韩联社）——周日公布的数据显示，今年20多岁的就业人数下降速度为1998年亚洲金融危机以来最快，这反映了人们进入劳动力市场年龄趋晚的趋势。

根据韩国统计信息服务中心（KOSIS）汇编的数据，今年1月至8月期间，20多岁的就业人数平均为338万人，比上年同期减少了19.3万人。

这是自 1998 年以来降幅最大的一次，当时受亚洲金融危机的影响，该数字骤降了 55 万。

2026年9月9日，首尔某大学就业指导中心展示招聘信息手册。（韩联社）

就业低迷的程度比该年龄段人口的下降更为明显。

该年龄段人口同比下降 3.5%，平均为 555 万人，而就业人数下降 5.6%。

因此，他们的就业率下降了 1.3 个百分点，至 59.1%，五年来首次跌破 60%。

相比之下，30多岁人群的就业情况有所改善。

该年龄段人口同比增长 8.3 万人，达到 694 万人；就业人数同比增长 10.3 万人，达到 560 万人。

他们的就业率上升至 80.9%，自 2022 年以来连续第五年保持上升趋势。

分析人士表示，这种趋势的分化可能部分反映了年轻人进入劳动力市场年龄的推迟。

ejkim@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）韩国财政部：出口带动，韩国经济复苏依然稳健

（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

政府承诺努力解决弱势群体面临的就业挑战

BTS北美巡演圆满落幕，洛杉矶站演出打破多项纪录。

BTS成员柾国凭借自作曲《Still With You》在Spotify上的播放量突破5亿次。

（导语）菲律宾国防部长抨击中国在首尔论坛上就南海问题发表的发言。

孙艺珍回归古装剧​​，翻拍《绯闻》

企业救援队继续搜寻在尼泊尔洪灾中失踪的9名韩国人

（新闻焦点）韩国面临是否在霍尔木兹海峡部署武器的高风险决定。

《奥德赛》连续第五周蝉联周末票房冠军

（第二部分）韩国第二季度名义GDP增速创47年来最快；人均国民总收入有望达到4万美元

（第三份报告）朝鲜向东海发射多枚短程弹道导弹：联合参谋本部

青瓦台谴责朝鲜导弹发射违反联合国安理会决议

（第二次）朝鲜向东海发射多枚弹道导弹：联合参谋本部

韩国集装箱船经北极航线，历时21天抵达英国

美国议员呼吁国务院修改对朝鲜的旅行禁令政策

大熊猫幼崽名叫舒宝

韩国举行反恐演习

韩国第二支灾害救援队抵达尼泊尔

在爱知-名古屋亚运会之前

20多岁人群的就业率下降速度为1998年以来最快。