The number of regular subscribers to employment insurance has continued to increase by over 200,000 for two consecutive months. While employment has risen mainly in semiconductors and the service industry, the construction industry has experienced an employment slump for more than two years.
According to the “February 2026 Labor Market Trends Based on Employment Administration Statistics” released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 16th, the number of regular subscribers to employment insurance last month stood at 15,639,000, an increase of 258,000 (1.7%) compared to the same month last year.
The increase in employment insurance subscribers was below 200,000 for 15 consecutive months since it recorded over 200,000 in October 2024. It recovered to over 200,000 last January for the first time in 15 months and remained in the 200,000 range again last month.
By industry, the number of regular subscribers to employment insurance in the service industry increased by 269,000, leading the overall increase. In particular, the health and welfare sector saw an increase of 117,000. The number of subscribers also grew in most service sectors, such as accommodation, food, business services, and professional, scientific and technical services.
On the other hand, the number of regular subscribers in manufacturing decreased by 3,000, continuing its decline for nine consecutive months. There were declines in metal processing, textiles, and machinery and equipment, while there were increases in some sectors such as electronics and telecommunications, food, and other transportation equipment. The increase widened, particularly in semiconductors (4,600) and electronic components (2,400).
The number of regular subscribers in construction decreased by 11,000. The decline in comprehensive construction continued for 31 consecutive months, although the rate of decline has moderated somewhat.
By age, there were increases in people in their 30s (89,000), 50s (48,000), and those aged 60 or over (201,000), while decreases were seen in those aged 29 or under (67,000) and those in their 40s (12,000). An official from the Ministry of Employment explained, “The decrease in the 20s population has a significant impact,” noting declines focused on manufacturing, information and communication, and retail and wholesale sectors.
Meanwhile, the number of new applicants, recipients, and amounts for job search benefits all decreased. The Ministry attributed this largely to the fact that the number of working days at employment centers in February was reduced by three days compared to last year due to the Lunar New Year holiday.
Additionally, both the scale of new job openings through the employment service platform “Employment24” and the job offer rate (0.37) decreased. The job offer rate refers to the number of job openings per job seeker, meaning there are only 37 jobs available for every 100 job seekers, which is the lowest since February 2009.