Campus Part-Time Jobs Vary Widely by Neighborhood; Hourly Pay Is 11% Above Minimum Wage

[Financial News] The part-time job market around universities in Seoul varies markedly according to the character of nearby commercial districts. Education-related jobs were more common in areas with private academies, while retail hiring was relatively active in fashion and shopping districts. Average hourly pay for part-time jobs near universities was also at least 11% above the minimum wage, making location and industry important factors in choosing a job.
 On the 3rd, an analysis by part-time job platform Albamon of job postings near universities in Seoul from January to September this year found that the area near Seoul National University of Education had the most postings, with 155,464. The area near Hongik University followed with 91,536, then Sogang University (83,169), Konkuk University (75,453) and Yonsei University (74,806).
 The university areas with the most job postings share a common feature: they are close to major Seoul commercial districts such as Gangnam, Hongdae and Sinchon. The concentration of restaurants, cafes and retail outlets catering not only to students but also to workers and visitors using nearby commercial facilities appears to have generated demand for part-time workers.
 The area near Dongguk University saw the most pronounced growth in postings. The number of job postings rose 38.3% from the same period last year, the highest growth rate among university areas in Seoul.
 The industries with the most active hiring also varied by university area. Near Seoul National University of Science and Technology, postings for entrance-exam and supplementary academies accounted for 9.0% of the total, more than four times the average across all university areas (2.1%). By contrast, near Konkuk University, postings for clothing, accessories and jewelry stores accounted for about three times the average across all university areas. More than 70% of those postings came from Seongsu-dong. This reflects how the characteristics of nearby academy districts and Seongsu-dong’s fashion and shopping district are also reflected in the job market.
 Part-time job postings across university areas were concentrated in food and beverage businesses. By industry, food and beverage accounted for the largest share of postings at 54.8%, followed by store management and sales (35.9%), services (8.8%), customer service and sales (8.7%), and office work (7.6%). The industry shares include postings assigned to multiple categories. The analysis found that face-to-face service businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and retail stores, form the core of the part-time job market near universities.
 Hourly pay also varied by industry. The average hourly wage in part-time job postings around universities in Seoul was 11,463 won, 11.1% higher than this year’s statutory minimum wage of 10,320 won. Compared with the 2021 average of 9,567 won, it rose 19.8% in five years.
 By industry, part-time jobs in education and teaching had the highest average hourly wage, at 14,459 won—26.1% above the overall average. They were followed by driving and delivery (13,081 won), customer service and sales (12,846 won), hospital and nursing work (12,812 won), and IT and technology (12,347 won).
 The part-time job market near universities is structured so that food service and retail drive hiring volume, while some fields requiring relatively specialized skills, such as education and tutoring, command higher hourly wages. For job seekers, this means it is worth considering not only how close a job is to campus but also the surrounding commercial district and wage levels by industry.
 Meanwhile, with the College Scholastic Ability Test on the 19th and winter break approaching, young people’s search for short-term part-time jobs is also drawing attention. Albamon operates a “Campus Part-Time Jobs” service to help students easily find work near their schools.
 An Albamon representative said, “University areas are where trendy commercial districts are concentrated, so they have many part-time job postings and are where changes in the part-time job market can be spotted first. We will take the lead in creating a safe job-search environment while also working to improve our services, including a community where job seekers can communicate with one another.”
[email protected] Lee Ju-mi Reporter