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

Employment among people in their 20s fell at the fastest pace this year since the 1998 Asian financial crisis, data showed Sunday. The number of employed people in their 20s averaged 3.38 million in January-August, down 193,000 from a year earlier. Their employment rate slipped to 59.1 percent, below 60 percent for the first time in five years. In contrast, employment among people in their 30s rose, extending its upward trend for a fifth straight year since 2022.

The population of people in their 20s fell 3.5 percent on-year to an average 5.55 million in the January-August period.

The number of employed people in their 20s fell 5.6 percent, a steeper drop than the decline in their population.

Employment among people in their 30s rose by 103,000 to 5.6 million, while their population increased by 83,000 to 6.94 million.

Published Sep 13, 2026 11:01 am KST

Students attend a career festival at Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. 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.

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.

周日公布的数据显示，今年20多岁人群的就业人数下降速度创下自1998年亚洲金融危机以来的最快纪录。今年1月至8月，20多岁人群的就业人数平均为338万人，比去年同期减少19.3万人。他们的就业率下滑至59.1%，五年来首次跌破60%。相比之下，30多岁人群的就业人数则有所上升，自2022年以来连续第五年保持增长势头。

今年1月至8月，20多岁的人口数量同比下降3.5%，平均为555万人。

20多岁的就业人数下降了5.6%，降幅大于该年龄段人口的降幅。

30多岁人群的就业人数增加了10.3万人，达到560万人，而该年龄段的人口增加了8.3万人，达到694万人。

发布于2026年9月13日上午11:01（韩国标准时间）

周二，学生们在庆尚北道庆山市岭南大学参加职业节。（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。

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。