As the quarantine situation for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) does not improve, the employment cliff for youth is deepening. This is because the number of young people who do not even have job search opportunities has increased as companies have reduced new hires due to uncertain economic conditions. Even if Corona 19 disappears, it takes time to recover employment, so there are concerns that the so-called “corona unemployed” centered on young people can become a social problem.
Last month’s’students’ surged… The best of all time
The quarantine situation for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) has not improved, and the employment cutoff of youth continues. According to the February employment trend of the National Statistical Office, the number of job-ready students (853,000) of the youth group recorded a record high as of February. Students are lining up for job interviews. News 1
According to the’February Employment Trend’ of the National Statistical Office on the 21st, the number of job seekers last month was 853,000, a sharp increase of 83,000 (10.8%) compared to February last year. This is the highest number as of February since 2003 when related statistics were compiled.
Trends of job seekers in February. Graphic = Reporter Kim Young-ok [email protected]
Employment preparer refers to a person who does not seek a job, but prepares for employment by taking lectures at academies or institutions. The increase in the number in this regard means that more people are waiting while preparing for a job rather than looking for a job right away.
By age, the proportion of job seekers (760,000 people) in their 20s and 30s accounted for the absolute proportion, accounting for 89% of the total. Looking at the increase, the number of job seekers in their 20s (589,000) and 30s (171,000) surged 9% (50,000) and 16.3% (24,000), respectively, compared to the same period last year.
New recruitment blocked… Service jobs declined sharply
The government and experts believe that hiring new companies and declining jobs in the existing service sector have hurt young people. According to the results of the’New Recruitment Plan for the First Half of 2021′ survey by the Korea Economic Research Institute, 63.6% of the respondents answered that “we could not set up a new recruitment plan in the first half of this year” or “there is no plan to hire one person.”
The decline in service jobs is also one of the reasons for the increase in the number of young recruits. According to the Ministry of Employment’s’January 2021 Labor Force Survey’, the decline in lodging and restaurant jobs in January compared to the previous year was 240,000, the largest ever. In particular, face-to-face service jobs were shocked by the re-proliferation of Corona 19. Jobs in the service industry, such as accommodation and restaurants, are a field where younger people are relatively engaged.
“I’m not ready for work”… ‘Youth unemployed’ also surged
As the employment cutoff for young people prolonged, the number of’NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)’, young people who gave up preparation for employment, rather than looking for a job, also increased.
The trend of the young Nit tribe. Graphic = Reporter Kim Young-ok [email protected]
According to a report on the’Status and Implications of the Domestic Nit Tribe’ released on the 21st by the Hyundai Economic Research Institute, the number of young Nit tribes (15-29 years old) last year reached 436,000, a 24.2% (85,000) increase from 2019. Compared to 2016 (262,000 people), it has increased by about 1.7 times in four years. The proportion of the Nit among all young people (ages 15 to 29) also increased by 2.1 percentage points from 2.8% in 2016 to 4.9% last year.
Experts diagnosed that the job severance of young people could continue even if the corona 19 quarantine situation improves. Sang-bong Kim, professor of economics at Hansung University, said, “As the economy was bad, companies felt burdened by new hires, and the phenomenon of seeking careers rather than new recruits intensified.” The job prospects for the floor are darkening,” he analyzed.
Sejong = Reporter Kim Namjun [email protected]
