1.2 million young people unemployed as of February, up 70,000 from last year.
The number of 30-somethings who have stopped job hunting reached 316,000, continuing a six-month upward trend.
This group now accounts for over 4.5% of the 30s age bracket—the highest level ever recorded.
Among unemployed individuals in their 30s, 147,000 had prior work experience, while only 3,000 had never worked before.
Many gave up job searching after failing to find a suitable position post-resignation.
Opinion
The issue is no longer limited to young job seekers—even experienced professionals are leaving the job market, highlighting deep structural flaws in South Korea’s labor system. This is not just about rising unemployment; hiring mismatches, rigid labor policies, and a shrinking pool of quality jobs are pushing more people to the sidelines.
Core Sell Point
If job mismatches and the lack of quality employment opportunities remain unresolved, the number of 30-somethings exiting the labor market will likely continue to climb.
South Korea’s job market is losing momentum, with employment rates falling and unemployment rising. As of February, the number of young people effectively out of work—including active job seekers and those preparing to enter the workforce—hit 1.2 million, an increase of 70,000 from the previous year. What was once a challenge primarily for younger job seekers is now spreading into the 30s age group, pointing to a deeper structural issue.
A particularly alarming trend is the surge in 30-somethings who have completely stopped looking for work, classified as those who "just took a break." In February, this group grew to 316,000, up 14,000 from the previous year—setting a new record since data collection began in 2003. This marks six consecutive months of increase, with their share of the 30s age group exceeding 4.5%, the highest ever recorded.
A deeper look into unemployment among 30-somethings reveals that most are not first-time job seekers. As of last year, only 3,000 had never worked before, while 147,000 had prior work experience. This suggests that the rise in job abandonment isn’t just about companies preferring experienced workers—it’s more likely driven by job mismatches and a lack of quality employment opportunities. Many in this group appear to have resigned from previous jobs but struggled to find suitable new positions, ultimately dropping out of the labor force.
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