Last year, more than 1.37 million people left their jobs involuntarily due to workplace closures, layoffs, or business downturns. This marks an increase of 100,000 from the previous year.
The number of involuntary unemployed decreased amid the employment boom brought on by the 'COVID-19 endemic,' but has increased for the first time in four years due to sluggish domestic demand and employment issues.
The number of people working fewer than 18 hours a week surpassed 2.5 million for the first time.
On the 2nd, an analysis of the microdata (MD) from the Statistics Korea employment trend revealed that the number of involuntary resignations last year was 1,372,954. This reflects an increase of 106,761 (8.4%) compared to 2023.
The proportion of involuntary resignations among all resignations was 42.9%. This means that 4 out of 10 resignations were involuntary.
This is 8.3 times the size of retirees who became unemployed due to retirement age and aging, totaling 164,740.
Involuntary unemployment refers to individuals who left their jobs for reasons such as workplace suspensions or closures, honorable retirements, early retirements, layoffs, the completion of temporary or seasonal work, or due to lack of work or business downturns.
Those who resigned for personal reasons, household responsibilities, child care, mental or physical disabilities, retirement, or dissatisfaction with salary are not included.
Involuntary resignations surged from 1,329,927 in 2019 to 1,806,967 in 2020, an increase of 477,029 (35.9%) due to the 'COVID-19 shock,' but have been on a decline for three consecutive years since, with 1,693,825 in 2021, 1,298,454 in 2022, and 1,266,191 in 2023. This is attributed to the employment rebound effect from the COVID-19 base effect.
However, as the domestic slump deepens and the growth rate slows, it seems that involuntary resignations have increased again.
The quality of employment has deteriorated, with a decrease in long-term employees and an increase in short-term employees. This indicates warning signs regarding employment quality and stability from a traditional perspective.
The number of 'ultra-short-term workers' who worked between 1 and 17 hours a week increased from 2,268,000 in 2023 to 2.5 million last year, an increase of 232,000 (10.2%). This is the largest number since the related statistics began in 1980.
Short-term workers who worked less than 36 hours a week also reached 8.81 million last year, approaching 9 million. This is also the highest figure since the statistics were compiled.
The proportion of workers employed under 36 hours last year was 30.8%, up from 23.9% in 2023, among the total employed population (28,576,000). This is the first time that the proportion of those working fewer than 36 hours has surpassed 30%. Essentially, one in three people working domestically is a short-term worker.
On the other hand, the number of long-term workers who worked more than 53 hours a week declined to 2,741,000 last year, a decrease of 327,000 (10.7%) from the previous year.