Kong Misuk, director-general of the Social Statistics Bureau at Statistics Korea, on Sept. 10 releases employment trends data for August at Government Complex-Sejong in Sejong. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hyelin

The number of jobs nationwide last month rose 166,000 from August last year.

An August employment report released by Statistics Korea on Sept. 10 said the number of employed last month was 28,967,000, or 166,000 more than in August the previous year. This was also the third consecutive month of growth exceeding 100,000 following 183,000 in June and 171,000 in July.

By industry, health care and social welfare added 304,000 staff, educational services 48,000 and real estate 40,000 over the cited period, while construction saw its figure fall 132,000 and manufacturing saw a drop of 61,000.

By demographic, the number of jobs for people aged 60 and older rose 401,000 and that of 30-somethings 96,000. The figure for the 15-29 age bracket, however, dropped 219,000 and that of those in their 40s and 50s also declined.

The employment rate for people aged 15 and older rose a tenth of a percentage point to 63.3%, while that for the 15-29 age range fell 1.6 points to 45.1%.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr