July Jobs Number Continues 300,000-plus Level for 2 Consecutive Months

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

SEOUL, KOREA- As the July jobs number surpassed the 300,000 level for two consecutive months, expectations are high on a further improvement in the job market.According to a report "July 2013 Employment Trend" by the Korea Statistical Office on August 14, the number of the employed in July was 25,473,000, up 367,000 from the same month last year. This is the largest increase in nine month since October last year.

The number of jobs newly added for the month was 322,000 in January this year, followed by 201,000, 249,000, 345,000, and 265,000 in February to May. For two months in June and July, the jobs number broke the 300,000 level to 360,000 and 367,000 respectively.

The employment ratio (percentage of population over 15 years of age engaging in gainful activities) for the month was 60.4 percent, up 0.1 percentage point from a year ago. The male employment ratio was 71.5 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from a year ago, and that for women was 49.9 percent, up 0.4 percentage point from the same month last year.