In brief
According to Korean data ministry officials quoted by Xinhua, non‑wage workers rose to 6.625 million in August – the first rise in three years – marking 22.7 % of the country’s employed population. Growth was strongest among those in their 30s and seniors aged 70 and older.
South Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics reported on Wednesday that the country’s non‑wage workforce, comprising the self‑employed and unpaid family workers, grew to 6.625 million in August – the first increase in three years – after rising 71,000 from the same month a year earlier, according to a Xinhua release.
The rise lifted the share of non‑wage workers to 22.7 percent of the total employed population, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous year.
In the self‑employment segment, those with employees increased by 47,000 to 1.481 million, while the self‑employed without employees grew by 62,000 to 4.303 million. Unpaid family workers fell by 37,000 to 841,000.
Growth was led by workers in their 30s and seniors. The number of non‑wage workers in their 30s climbed 55,000, and the youth group aged 15‑29 increased by 24,000. Non‑wage workers aged 70 and older expanded 23,000 to 965,000, representing 14.6 percent of all non‑wage workers – the highest proportion recorded since 2007.
