Employment Rate in Gun and Gu Areas Fell in the First Half of This Year

[Financial News] The employment rate in gun and gu areas fell in the first half of this year. The employment rate in gu areas of special and metropolitan cities fell for the first time since the related statistics were compiled. It is interpreted as being affected by the population structure with a high proportion of young people and sluggish domestic demand.
 According to Statistics Korea's '2025 First Half Regional Employment Survey Main Employment Indicators' on the 21st, the number of employed people in gu areas of special metropolitan cities was 11,589,000, a decrease of 23,000 compared to the same period last year. The employment rate was 58.8%, down 0.2 percentage points. This is the first decline since the related statistics were compiled in 2021.
 In the city areas of nine provinces, the number of employed people was 14,175,000, an increase of 162,000 compared to the previous year. The employment rate also rose by 0.3 percentage points to 62.6%. Dangjin City in Chungnam (72.2%) and Seogwipo City in Jeju (71.7%) recorded high employment rates.
 On the other hand, the number of employed people in gun areas decreased by 4,000 to 2,103,000, and the employment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 69.2%. Ulleung-gun in Gyeongbuk (83.3%) and Sinan-gun in Jeonnam (80.2%) had high employment rates among gun areas.
 Song Junhaeng, head of the Employment Statistics Division at Statistics Korea, explained, "The employment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points in city areas, but fell in gun and gu areas this time," adding, "Such differences appear between regions, and in the case of gu areas, the time series has been compiled since 2021, and it fell for the first time."
 Meanwhile, the economically inactive population also showed an increasing trend. It increased by 14,000 in city areas and 52,000 in gu areas. The gun area maintained the same level as the previous year. In particular, the 'other' economically inactive population, classified as 'resting' or 'preparing for employment', increased in all city, gun, and gu areas. Statistics Korea analyzed, "The result reflects the trend of increasing economic inactivity among the elderly and the increase in the 'resting' state among young people."

junjun@fnnews.com Choi Yongjun Reporter