The number of people who got a job last year but took a leave of absence due to no work at the company recorded a record high. It is the effect of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
According to microdata from Statistics Korea’s Economically Active Population Survey on the 25th, the number of temporary leavers last year was 837,000. Among them, 371,000 people took temporary leave from work due to sluggish business and suspension of operations.
Temporary leavers are classified as employed. However, they are people who are temporarily taking a break from work due to illness or accident, annual leave/vacation, childcare, sluggish business, or suspension of work. Among them, it can be interpreted that temporary leave due to business sluggishness and suspension of operations were forced to leave because of no work.
The total number of temporary leave workers last year was 837,000, the highest since the statistics related to 1980. Temporary leave surpassed the 300,000 level for the first time in 2004, fluctuated from 300,000 to 400,000 in 2019, and surged to 800,000 last year.
The reason for the rapid increase was the large increase in the number of temporary leavers due to sluggish business and suspension of operations.
Looking at the reasons for temporary leave last year, 44.4% of the companies were sluggish and stopped working. Annual leave and leave were 32.2%, temporary sickness and accidents 13.0%, and childcare was 7.8%. In 2019, the previous year, temporary sickness and accidents (29.2%) were the top reasons for temporary leave, and annual leave and leave (42.0%) in 2018. Business sluggishness and suspension of operations were only 13.8% and 12.2% in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
When looking at 371,000 people on temporary leave due to sluggish business and suspension of operations last year, by industry, the health and social welfare service industries accounted for the largest number of 19.3%. The education service industry (14.8%) and the lodging/restaurant industry (9.1%), which were hit directly by Corona 19, were followed, followed by the manufacturing industry (9.1%).
Reporter Lee Song-ryul [email protected]
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