S. Korea adds 234,000 jobs in Feb., logs fastest growth in 5 months

▲ This file photo, taken Nov. 6, 2025, shows a job fair in Seoul. (Yonhap)

jobless rate-February tally

S. Korea adds 234,000 jobs in Feb., logs fastest growth in 5 months

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 234,000 jobs in February, marking the fastest on-year growth in five months, though a slump in youth employment and the construction sector persisted, data showed Wednesday.

The number of employed people rose by 0.8 percent from a year earlier to 28.41 million last month, according to the data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marks the largest on-year gain since adding 312,000 jobs in September 2024.

Despite the overall rise, the data underscored a prolonged downturn in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Youth employment declined for the 22nd consecutive month in February, highlighting ongoing challenges for young job seekers.

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