Statistics Korea ‘Supplementary survey by working type of working population’
Salary gap between regular and non-regular workers: 1,748,000 won
Proportion of part-time workers among non-regular workers: 50.3%, ‘highest ever’
The monthly salary of non-regular workers, including part-time workers, exceeded 2 million won for the first time in history, but the wage gap with regular workers was also recorded at 1,748,000 won, the largest ever.
According to the ‘August 2024 Economically Active Population Survey Supplementary Survey Results by Work Type’ announced by Statistics Korea on the 22nd, the average monthly wage of wage earners from June to August of this year was 3,128,000 won, an increase of 121,000 won from the previous year.
In particular, the monthly salary of non-regular workers increased by 91,000 won from the previous year to 2,048,000 won, exceeding 2 million won for the first time since statistics were compiled in 2003.
Nevertheless, the salary gap with regular workers has reached an all-time high.
The monthly salary of regular workers increased by 173,000 won to 3,796,000 won. The wage gap between regular and non-regular workers was 1,748,000 won, the highest ever. This is because the proportion of part-time workers among non-regular workers is increasing.
The average monthly wage of non-regular workers, excluding part-time workers, was 2,957,000 won, an increase of 196,000 won compared to the same month last year. Excluding part-time workers, where salaries vary widely, the gap in salary between regular and irregular workers is 839,000 won. Excluding part-time workers, the wage gap continues to decline to its lowest level since 2018 (825,000 won).
◆The proportion of part-time workers among non-regular workers is 50.3%… Best ever
As of August, the number of non-regular workers increased by 337,000 to 8,459,000. The proportion of non-regular workers compared to all wage workers was 38.2%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points (p) compared to the same month last year.
In particular, the number of part-time workers increased by 383,000 from the previous year to 4,256,000. A part-time worker refers to a worker whose working hours are even one hour shorter than that of workers performing the same job at the same workplace.
The proportion of part-time workers among non-regular workers was 50.3%, exceeding 50% for the first time. Both the scale and proportion are the largest ever since statistics were first compiled.
The number of part-time workers increased mainly in women, people over 60 and young people, accommodation and food industry, health and social welfare, and public administration.
◆The proportion of voluntary non-regular workers is 66.6%, ‘the highest ever’
The proportion of non-regular workers who voluntarily chose a job type was 66.6%, up 1 percentage point from the previous year, reaching an all-time high.
The reason for voluntary selection of non-regular workers was ‘satisfied with working conditions’, which was the highest at 59.9%, the same as the previous year. This is also the highest level ever.
The response of ‘stable job’ was also recorded at 21.6%, the highest level since August 2021. Lim Gyeong-eun, head of the employment statistics division at Statistics Korea, said, “Rather than feeling unstable about working for short periods of time, there is a part of people who feel stable if they can do it repeatedly and periodically.” He added, “The trend of preferring work for the hours they want, when they want, will continue to be reflected.” “He explained.
The most common reason for choosing non-regular employment was ‘I need income right away’ at 74.3%, up 2.4 percentage points from the previous year.
Meanwhile, as of August, the number of regular workers decreased by 147,000 from the previous year, marking the first decline in three years.
Manager Lim said, “The number of regular workers has decreased significantly in the manufacturing sector, construction industry, wholesale and retail industry, and accommodation and food industry,” adding, “In the construction industry and wholesale and retail industry, the number of employed people is decreasing overall, so the number of regular workers in those sectors is decreasing. “It also had an impact,” he explained.
(Sejong = Newsis)
Source: www.donga.com
