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 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.

It 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 aging population 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.

jobs created among manufacturers, which provide decent jobs, declined 151,000 in the cited period. Employment in the finance and insurance sector shrank 38,000, with the figure in the wholesale and retail industry sliding 60,000 last month.

Among those in their 30s and 40s, job creation retreated 115,000 and 128,000 respectively, indicating a still lackluster labor market.

The number of those unemployed added 38,000 over the year to 1,303,000 in February, marking the third-highest February reading in 20 years.

The employment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 59.4 percent last month. The hiring rate gauges the percentage of working people to the working-age population, or those aged 15 or above.

Regular workers advanced 299,000 in February from a year earlier, while irregular workers reduced 43,000 last month. The number of day laborers grew 40,000 in the month.