(LEAD) S. Korea adds 74,000 jobs in April, lowest in 16 months

(LEAD) jobless rate-April tally

(LEAD) S. Korea adds 74,000 jobs in April, lowest in 16 months

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS details throughout)

By Kang Yoon-seung

SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 74,000 jobs in April, marking the slowest growth in 16 months in the aftermath of the Middle East conflict, which led to higher oil prices and weaker consumers' sentiment, data showed Wednesday.

The number of employed people came to 28.96 million in April, compared with 28.88 million a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marked the weakest performance since posting a 52,000 on-year drop in December 2024.

Job growth had expanded in the 200,000 range in February and March.

The country's jobless rate came to 2.9 percent last month, unchanged from a year earlier. The number of unemployed people totaled 853,000 in April, down 2,000.

The ministry said the unemployment rate fell among people in their 20s and 50s but rose for those in their 30s.

The employment rate for South Koreans aged 15 to 64 came to 70 percent in April, down 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier.

The employment rate for all South Koreans aged 15 and above reached 63 percent, down 0.2 percentage point.

By sector, the number of jobs in the health and social welfare services sector increased 261,000 from a year earlier, while the arts, sports and recreation-related services sector added 54,000 jobs. The real estate sector gained 49,000 jobs.

In contrast, the science and technical services sector shed 115,000 jobs, and the manufacturing sector lost 55,000 jobs.

The ministry noted the record decrease in the science sector, which was first separately categorized in 2013, was largely due to a base effect following strong job growth in recent years.

The number of economically inactive people went up 174,000 from a year earlier. The number of people reporting that they were not working and simply resting went up 63,000 to 2.49 million, according to the latest findings.

Job seekers read a bulletin board at an employment exhibition in Incheon, west of Seoul, in this file photo from April 28, 2026. (Yonhap)