The number of temporary employees in South Korea was 4.76 million in May 2021, up 6.9% when compared to the same period last year, according to data published by Statistics Korea.

When compared to the previous month, the number of temporary employees in South Korea increased by 1.9% in May 2020.

Statistics Korea also published labour market figures for May 2021. The unemployment rate stood at 4.0% in May, down 0.5%, year-on-year.

The number of unemployed persons totalled 1.14 million people in April, which decreased 130,000 persons or 10.2%, year-on-year.

At the same time, the number of employed persons totalled 27.55 million persons in May, which went up 619,000 persons or 2.3% year-on-year.

The construction sector saw the biggest year-on-year increase in employment at 6.6% in May.

The employment to population ratio was 61.2% in May, up 1.0% year-on-year.

South Korea’s economically active population was 28.69 million persons in May, which grew 489,000 persons or 1.7% year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate stood at 63.7% in May, up 0.7% year-on-year.