In the first quarter of this year, the number of wage worker jobs increased by about 290,000. The increase has continued for four straight quarters from the second quarter of last year through the first quarter of this year after hitting a low in the first quarter of last year, when it rose by 15,000, but the share of jobs held by people in their 20s hit a record low for the second straight quarter.
According to the "Trends in wage worker jobs for the first quarter of 2026 (as of February)" released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) on the 24th, the number of jobs in the first quarter was 20,828,000, up 292,000 from a year earlier. A total of 2,226,000 new jobs were created by the establishment of corporations or business expansion, while 1,934,000 disappeared due to the closure of corporations or business contraction.
By age, the biggest increase was among those 60 and older (233,000). Jobs also increased among those in their 30s (115,000) and 50s (40,000). In contrast, jobs decreased by 76,000 among those in their 20s and younger and by 19,000 among those in their 40s. For those in their 20s and younger, jobs fell in manufacturing (down 26,000), public administration (down 14,000), and information and communications (down 14,000), among others. Jobs for those in their 20s and younger have fallen for 14 consecutive quarters since the fourth quarter of 2022.
As a share of total jobs, those in their 50s (23%) were the highest, followed by those in their 40s (22.2%), 30s (21.9%), 60 and older (19.2%), and 20s and younger (13.6%). The share for those in their 20s and younger is the lowest since related statistics began in 2017.
By industry, health and social welfare added 127,000 jobs (43.5% of the total increase), the largest gain. In particular, jobs in this field grew mainly among those in their 50s (18,000) and those 60 and older (93,000), with a noticeable inflow among those in their 30s (up 20,000). A Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) official said, "With rising demand for care and the impact of government programs, jobs for older adults have expanded, driving the increase."
Accommodation and food services (59,000) and professional, scientific and technical services (37,000) also saw large increases. In accommodation and food services, jobs in restaurants and bars increased by 56,000, while in professional, scientific and technical services, professional services rose by 24,000.
In contrast, manufacturing, which has the largest share of jobs, stood at 4,294,000, down 1,000 from a year earlier. Jobs increased in semiconductors (5,000), new automobile parts (4,000), and other foods (6,000) over five quarters, but fell in textile dyeing (3,000), other fabricated metal products (2,000), and communications and broadcasting equipment (2,000).
Construction also fell 3.1% (52,000) from the same period a year earlier. It has declined for 10 consecutive quarters since the third quarter of 2023. However, the pace of decline has been easing, following the first quarter (154,000), second quarter (141,000), third quarter (128,000), and fourth quarter (88,000). A Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) official said, "Although the slump in construction is prolonged, construction completed work value, which fell 16.6% in the previous quarter, declined 5.9% this quarter, showing a narrowing decline.".