South Koreans Grapple with Job Anxiety in 2023 Statistics Korea Survey

More than half of South Korean employees are experiencing anxiety about losing their jobs or having to change jobs. (Image courtesy of Korea Bizwire)

SEJONG, Nov. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – More than half of South Korean employees are experiencing anxiety about losing their jobs or having to change jobs. Preferences for public servant jobs or positions at state-run enterprises have sharply declined, while the popularity of employment at large companies has increased. 

Approximately 80 percent of households replied that income has declined or remained unchanged compared to a year ago, with the level of satisfaction for income and consumption remaining low at around 20 percent.

In the results of its 2023 social survey unveiled on Wednesday, Statistics Korea noted that 54.6 percent of employees over the age of 19 said they are suffering from anxiety about losing their jobs or changing jobs in the near future, an increase of 0.7 percentage points from 2021. 

The share of those experiencing such anxiety was higher among men at 54.9 percent than among women at 54.3 percent. Among different age groups, the phenomenon was most common among those in their 40s at 57.1 percent.

By job type, individuals engaged in skilled labor jobs and service/sales jobs showed more anxiety. 

The most desirable jobs for young individuals between the ages of 13 and 34 were positions at large companies at 27.4 percent, followed by state-run enterprises at 18.2 percent and public institutions at 16.2 percent. 

Compared to figures from 2021, the preference for state-run enterprises and public institutions declined by 3 to 5 percentage points from 21.5 percent and 21 percent, while the preference for large companies increased by about 6 percentage points from 21.6 percent. 

Males showed a relatively higher preference for large companies, state-run enterprises, and self-employment, while females showed a preference for public institutions, enterprises with professional jobs, and foreign companies. 

At 84.2 percent, most of the population over 13 years of age said it’s better for women to have jobs. Among them, 60.2 percent said that it’s better for women to keep working regardless of housework and childcare. 

The biggest obstacle preventing women from having jobs was the burden of childcare, at 52.7 percent, followed by social prejudice at 14.2 percent, and unfair working conditions at 12.1 percent. The level of job satisfaction for wage workers stood at 35.1 percent, up 0.1 percentage point from 35 percent two years ago.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)