SEOUL: The number of regular workers in South Korea has declined for the first time in three years, with the salary gap between regular and non-regular employees reaching an unprecedented level, recent data indicates. As of August, the number of regular workers fell by 147,000, totaling 13.69 million, while the number of non-regular workers increased by 337,000 to 8.46 million.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decline marks the first drop since 2021 when regular employment decreased by 94,000. The proportion of non-regular workers has risen to 38.2 percent of the country’s 22.14 million salaried workers, marking the second-highest level recorded since 2003. The manufacturing, construction, and wholesale and retail sectors saw reductions in regular positions, whereas the dining and accommodations industry, along with health care and social welfare sectors, experienced significant increases in irregular employment.
The data reveals that individuals aged 60 and older constitute the largest share of irregul
ar workers at 33.2 percent, followed by those in their 50s at 19.6 percent, and people in their 20s and teenagers combined at 19 percent. The largest increase in irregular employment occurred among those aged 60 and older, followed by individuals in their 30s and 50s. Women represent 57.3 percent of the total irregular workforce, the highest recorded share.
The average monthly salary for non-regular workers exceeded 2 million won for the first time, reaching 2.05 million won ($1,483) from June to August, an increase of 91,000 won from the previous year. In comparison, regular workers earned an average of 3.79 million won, marking the largest recorded wage gap between the two groups. Part-time workers now make up 50.3 percent of the total irregular workforce.
Im Kyung-eun, an official from the agency, noted, “A growing number of people, particularly among senior citizens and youth, seek to work when they want and need to. There has also been an increasing demand for part-time positions.”