South Korea Adds 139,000 Jobs in October, Continuing Positive Trend

South Korea's labor market showed promising signs in October 2026, with the country adding 139,000 jobs compared to the same month last year. This marks the fourth consecutive month where job growth has exceeded the 100,000 mark, reflecting a robust recovery in the employment sector.

According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the total number of employed individuals reached 29.17 million in October, up from 29.04 million a year earlier. The jobless rate also saw a decline, settling at 2 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous year.

Despite the overall positive trend, certain sectors faced challenges. Manufacturing jobs decreased by 7,000, primarily due to losses in the textile and automotive industries. The construction sector also reported a loss of 42,000 jobs, while the accommodation and restaurant sector experienced a significant drop of 137,000 jobs, the largest since February 2021.

On the brighter side, the healthcare and social welfare sectors added 249,000 jobs, indicating a shift towards more stable employment opportunities in these areas. The government emphasized the importance of job creation as a vital component of the economy, particularly for vulnerable groups.

First Vice Finance Minister Kwon Dae-young stated, "Jobs are the most important path and lifeline through which the benefits of export-driven economic growth reach the domestic economy and people's lives." He assured that the government would prioritize improving employment conditions and developing job creation projects moving forward.