S.Korea's job growth hits 13-month high on gov't job program

SEOUL, March 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's job growth hit a 13-month high in February as the government's program to create jobs in the public sector increased employment especially among those aged 60 or higher, statistical office data showed on Wednesday.

The number of those employed totaled 26,346,000 in February, up 263,000 from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea. It was the fastest expansion since January last year.

The growth was attributed to the government's job-creating program that raised employment in the health, welfare and public administration sectors.

Employment in the healthcare and social welfare services industry gained 237,000, or 12.9 percent, in February from a year earlier. It was the highest increase since the relevant data began to be compiled in 2013.

The number of jobs created in the agricultural sector grew 117,000, or 11.8 percent, in the cited period.

The government's job program was focused on the elderly as the country's rapid population aging raised the need to work longer amid the low birthrate.

The number of employees aged 60 or higher jumped 397,000 in February from a year earlier, marking the highest growth since the relevant data began to be compiled in July 1982.