Jobseekers look at employment information at a job fair in Suwon, 46 kilometers south of Seoul, in the Feb. 2, 2021, file photo. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Three out of 10 South Koreans who were hired last year worked less than 36 hours a week, the statistics agency said Sunday.
The number of part-time workers totaled 8,028,000 last year, accounting for 28.6 percent of total employment, the highest figure since 1980 when related data began to be compiled, according to the data from Statistics Korea.
Some, however, have pointed out that such growth does not necessarily have a negative meaning, particularly considering the upward trend in the number of people who cannot or have no will to work full-time, including double-income couples who want to balance work and child care, as well as retirees.
Among those who worked less than 36 hours a week last year, 58.5 percent said that they usually worked such hours, while 31.3 percent cited annual leave and public holidays as the reason behind their shorter working hours.
By age group, 31 percent of those over 60 were part-time workers, followed by those in their 50s at 20.5 percent, those in their 40s at 18.3 percent, those in their 20s at 16.1 percent and those in their 30s at 14.1 percent.
Among those who worked less than 36 hours a week, 12.3 percent wanted to work longer hours.
In particular, among those in their 30s, 40s and 50s who worked less than 36 hours a week, about 25 percent wanted to work longer, do part-time work, or move to other jobs where they could work longer hours.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
