The number of employed last month rose to 26,953,000, or 1,135,000 more than the same month last year. The photo shows people on the morning of Feb. 3 cross the street in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae

The number of new jobs last month was the highest in 21 years and 10 months.

According to an employment trends report released on Feb. 16 by Statistics Korea, the number of employed last month reached 26,953,000, up 1,135,000 in January last year. This was the highest number of new jobs since 1,211,000 in March 2000.

The employment rate among the 15-64 age group was 67%, up 2.7% percentage points year on year. The jobless rate also dropped 1.6% points to 4.1%.

Most sectors saw job growth like health and social welfare services (250,000), accommodations and dining (128,000), manufacturing (66,000), and transportation and storage (121,000).

Sectors seeing employment declines included wholesale and retail (56,000) and finance and insurance (15,000).

The number of unemployed was 1,143,000, down 427,000 from the same month last year and the largest drop in 21 years and five months since 456,000 in August 2000.

Statistics Korea said, "January employment trends showed a large increase in jobs this year as the large drop in the same month last year was due to the base effect," adding, "Employment showed continued recovery as the number of employed rose due to changes in industrial structure such as strong exports and noncontact and digital transitions and a decline in the number of unemployed and the economically inactive population."

xuaiy@korea.kr