By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter

Many worry about university graduates, usually those in their mid-to-late 20s, who are facing the worst job market conditions ever, with businesses dismissing existing workers en masse rather than hiring new ones amid the worldwide economic slump. The situation is said to be worse than during the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.

However, there is an age group that has been hit even harder by the ongoing business downturn: 30-somethings who are the backbone of the world's 13th largest economy and the main breadwinner for many households.

According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), Sunday, the number of people employed in their 30s fell by 167,000 to 5.81 million in February from a year earlier, the lowest since the office began compiling data in June 1999.

In particular, the number of female workers in that age bracket dropped sharply by 157,000, while male workers declined by 9,000, indicating women are more severely affected than men by the unfolding corporate downsizing and the collapse of self-run businesses.

Last month, 30-somethings accounted for 25.6 percent of the nation's labor force, down from 26.1 percent a year ago.

As a whole, workers totaled 22.74 million in February, down 142,000 from the previous year, after net slides of 103,000 in January and 12,000 in December last year. February marked the largest year-on-year job loss since September 2003.

The government said the country will lose around 200,000 more jobs than it generates this year, but most private research institutes are projecting a net loss of as many as 500,000, signaling a tighter job market in the months to come.

``Businesses are dismissing a large number of existing workers to cut costs and stay afloat amid the deepening economic downturn. Many of them are in their 30s,'' an NSO official said. In fact, the number of workers in their 40s and 50s increased by 25,000 and 183,000, respectively, last month from a year earlier.

``A significant portion of 30-something female workers are employed on a non-permanent and temporary basis, without job security and other fringe benefits. Companies target them first when things go bad because it is easier to lay them off than regular workers,'' the official said.

He added that ongoing sluggish domestic consumption has forced many small business owners in their 30s to close their doors.

The level of regular workers rose by 390,000 in February from a year ago, with that of nonpermanent and temporary employees decreasing 273,000 to 6.75 million, according to the statistical office. The number of non-salaried workers dropped to 6.79 million, down 259,000 over the same period.

Against the worsening job market conditions, the government has introduced a series of measures designed to financially help businesses create more jobs and stabilize the livelihoods of the unemployed. Last week, a 6-trillion-won ($4 billion) spending plan was unveiled.

Among the measures will be temporary work offered to laid-off workers and the self-employed ― who are mostly in their 30s and 40s ― from as early as May until the end of the year. They will receive about one million won per month in return for providing social services.

The government also plans to expand unemployment benefits and job training programs.

leehs@koreatimes.co.kr