The number of workers at domestic enterprises last month increased from a year earlier, marking a rise for four straight months. However, due to an industry slump, manufacturing saw declines for 27 consecutive months and construction for 19 months.
According to the enterprise labor force survey for December released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) on the 29th, as of last month, the number of workers at enterprises with one or more employees was 20,205,000, up 31,000 (0.2%) from a year earlier.
The number of enterprise workers has seen its growth slow since 2022 amid demographic changes. After turning negative in January last year for the first time in 46 months and continuing to decline, the number returned to growth in September last year and rose for four straight months through last month.
The recent increase is being led by health and social welfare services. Workers in health and social welfare services last month rose by 97,000 (3.9%) from a year earlier. Professional, scientific and technical services (17,000) and transportation and warehousing (10,000) also grew 1.3% each from a year earlier.
By contrast, manufacturing and construction remain weak. Manufacturing, which has the largest share of workers among all industries (18%), fell by 13,000 from a year earlier. That is a decline for 27 consecutive months. Construction workers decreased by 45,000 (3.2%) from a year earlier. Amid an industry downturn, it has been on a downward trend for 18 straight months since June 2024.
By employment status, regular employees increased by 13,000 (0.1%) year over year, and temporary and daily workers rose by 43,000 (2.3%). Other workers who receive tips and the like without fixed pay decreased by 25,000 (1.9%) from a year earlier.
By size, workers at enterprises with fewer than 300 employees numbered 2,000, similar to the previous year, while those with 300 or more increased by 30,000 (0.9%).
There were 152,000 job vacancies, down 13,000 from a year earlier. A vacancy is a job currently recruiting that can start within a month. It has been declining continuously since Feb. 2024.
The number of hires last month was 818,000, down 33,000 (3.8%) from a year earlier, and the number of separations was 969,000, down 2.5%.