South Korea adds 113,000 jobs in September as manufacturing employment rises for first time in 27 months

113,000 more people employed

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Finance and Economy released the September data on Oct. 16. Employment rose by 113,000 from a year earlier, the third straight month of gains above 100,000. Seasonally adjusted, it rose by 40,000 from August.

The employment rate for people 15 and older was 63.5%, down 0.2 percentage point. The 15–64 rate was 70.6%, up 0.2 point and the highest for a September on record. Unemployment was 2.0%.

Manufacturing up 16,000

Manufacturing employment rose by 16,000 after a 38,000 drop in August. The government said strong exports fed through to hiring with a lag. Average daily exports rose 104.9% in September, with semiconductors up 262.8%.

Health and welfare added 207,000 jobs and transport and storage 54,000. Accommodation and food service lost 97,000 and construction 48,000.

Permanent jobs at a September record share

Permanent employees rose by 253,000, the biggest gain since November 2025, lifting their share of all workers to 57.8%, the highest for a September. Temporary workers fell by 81,000 and daily workers by 55,000.

The employment rate for ages 15–29 fell 1.1 points to 44.0%. The number of young people not working and “just resting” fell for an eighth straight month, to 364,000.

Government response

The government said tension in the Middle East remains a downside risk. It plans to draft a “National Jobs Project” covering private and public job creation, and a task force will look for measures for construction and agriculture.