S. Korea's wage jobs rise 292,000 in Q1, led by welfare, hospitality sectors

South Korea saw a 292,000 increase in wage jobs during the first quarter of 2026, primarily fueled by the health and social welfare, accommodation, and food service sectors, according to official data released on Monday. As of February, the total number of salaried jobs stood at 20.82 million, marking a 292,000 increase compared to the previous year, reported the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

Seventy-four percent of the newly added jobs were held by the same workers as the year prior, while 15.3 percent were filled by new workers following retirements or job changes. Of the total job growth, 10.7 percent were due to the establishment of new businesses or business expansions.

In terms of sector-specific growth, the health and social welfare sector saw a 127,000 job increase, while the accommodation and food service sectors expanded by 59,000 jobs. Conversely, manufacturing jobs declined by 1,000, with the construction industry losing 52,000 wage positions. Within manufacturing, the chip industry added 5,000 jobs, while textile dyeing saw a 3,000 job loss. The communications and broadcasting equipment industry also reported 2,000 job cuts.

Age-wise, wage jobs for individuals in their 20s and younger decreased by 76,000, those in their 40s fell by 19,000. However, jobs for people aged 60 and older, as well as those in their 30s and 50s, rose by 233,000, 115,000, and 40,000, respectively.