After retirement, the number of non-regular workers aged 60 and above has exceeded 3 million for the first time due to an increase in such individuals returning to work. The proportion of those aged 60 and above among all non-regular workers also recorded an all-time high.
According to the “August 2025 Economic Activity Survey: Employment Type Supplementary Survey Results” announced today (22nd) by the National Data Office, as of August this year, the number of regular workers was 13.845 million, an increase of 160,000 from the same month last year. Non-regular workers increased by 110,000 compared to a year ago, reaching 8.568 million, making up 38.2% of all wage workers.
Among non-regular workers, those aged 60 and above were the most numerous, totaling 3.044 million. This is the first time the number of non-regular workers aged 60 and above has exceeded 3 million since statistics began being compiled. Compared to a year ago, only those aged 60 and above (+233,000) and in their 30s (+66,000) increased, while numbers decreased for those in their 40s (-106,000), under 29 (-58,000), and in their 50s (-25,000).
The proportion of non-regular workers aged 60 and above (35.5%) also reached a record high. The growth in non-regular workers aged 60 and above is analyzed to be influenced by both an increase in the population of that age group and a rise in employment rates.
Song Jun-haeng, head of the Employment Statistics Division at the National Data Office, explained, “In cases like those in their 30s and 60s and above, the growth in the population along with an effect of the net increase in employment rates is causing the proportion of (non-regular workers) to rise.”
By employment type, temporary workers increased by 339,000, bringing the total to 5.848 million, a rise of 220,000 compared to a year ago, due to the increase in fixed-term workers. The proportion of temporary workers among non-regular workers rose by 1.7 percentage points to 68.2%.
Time-based workers, which hit a record high last year, decreased by 27,000 this year to 4.229 million. Atypical workers, including dispatched, contract, or special type workers, decreased by 70,000 to 1.834 million.
By industry, non-regular workers increased in health and social welfare (+210,000) and transport and storage (+39,000), whereas they decreased in accommodation and food services (-58,000), construction (-51,000), and wholesale and retail trade (-41,000).
The proportion of non-regular workers who voluntarily chose their working conditions increased by 1.2 percentage points to 67.8%, with “satisfaction with working conditions (56.9%)” being the highest reason given for voluntarily selecting non-regular employment.
The average monthly wage for regular workers over the past three months (June to August) was 3.896 million won, while for non-regular workers it was 2.088 million won. The wage gap of 1.808 million won marks a record high, attributed to the increased proportion of part-time workers.
Song Jun-haeng explained, “In the case of part-time workers, since they work fewer hours, their wages are relatively low, which significantly impacts the overall wages of non-regular workers.”
Excluding part-time workers, the average monthly wage for non-regular workers was 3.037 million won. The social insurance subscription rate for non-regular workers decreased for National Pension (37.1%) and Employment Insurance (53.7%) compared to the previous year, while Health Insurance (53.2%) increased.
[Photo source: Provided by National Data Office]
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