In the latest wage-job survey, total positions rose from the same quarter a year earlier. By age, however, the twenties and early thirties brackets kept falling, while the largest gains came among those aged 60 and over.

By industry, health and social welfare and public administration added positions, while manufacturing and wholesale-retail shed them. The decline in sectors that employ relatively more young people is cited as the reason for the drop in the twenties bracket.

Job-count statistics differ from employment statistics. One person working two jobs counts as two positions, so growth here does not automatically mean more people newly employed.

Youth employment policy is expected to be contested in the budget review, with disagreement over whether to expand direct job-creation programmes or subsidies to hiring firms.

The same trend affects young foreign residents, particularly ethnic Chinese students graduating from Korean universities. Because visa conversion is tied to employment, a tighter hiring market narrows their options too.