Full-time gigs vanishing for young Koreans amid rise in short-term work

Young Koreans are struggling to find part-time jobs with full hours as employers shorten work periods to avoid providing benefits. Gettyimagebank

Young Koreans are struggling to find steady part-time jobs as full-time positions become increasingly rare. Instead, short, fragmented shifts dominate the job market, making it harder for young people to earn a stable income.

"These days, most part-time jobs are split into short shifts. I want to work full-time, but since there are no such positions, I might have to look for a second job," one young job seeker wrote in an online forum.

Another said, "I searched every convenience store near my home, but full-time jobs are hard to find. Most shifts are only three hours a day, which isn't enough for a proper income."

These frustrations, shared by young job seekers online, highlight the growing employment challenges faced by Korea's youth. The problem is reflected in recent labor market statistics.

The number of short-term part-time workers — those who work between one and 14 hours a week — hit a record high last year. Meanwhile, the youth employment rate fell 1.5 percentage points in January from a year earlier.

According to Statistics Korea's national data portal, the number of short-term workers reached 1.74 million last year, accounting for 6.09 percent of all employed individuals — an all-time high. It was also the first time this figure exceeded 6 percent.

A job listing from a convenience store in northeastern Seoul's Nowon District illustrates the trend. The store advertised shifts twice a week from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., totaling just nine hours per week. While full-time positions were more common in the past, similar short-term part-time jobs have become the norm.

"I work three evening shifts a week, each lasting three hours, but the pay isn't enough to cover my expenses," said 22-year-old Park, who works at a convenience store in Seoul. "That's why many of my friends work multiple part-time jobs at bakeries or cafes."

Giving up on job-hunting

Labor experts attribute the surge in short-term jobs to business owners' efforts to avoid certain employment benefits.

Under Korean labor law, employees who work fewer than 15 hours a week are not entitled to paid holidays, annual leave or severance pay. As a result, more employers are structuring part-time jobs as short, fragmented shifts.

Despite short-term workers being counted in employment statistics, the youth employment rate has declined. In January, the employment rate for those aged 15 to 29 fell to 44.8 percent from 46.3 percent a year earlier. After hovering between 45 and 46 percent for most of last year, the figure dipped into the 44 percent range for the first time in December.

The increase in "resting youth" — those who voluntarily stop looking for jobs — has contributed to the decline. Last year, 421,000 young people were reported to be in this category, up about 20,000 from the previous year.

For many, the financial strain of balancing job-hunting and education with the meager income from short shifts is taking a toll.

The perceived unemployment rate, which includes those who are technically employed but feel underutilized or want more work, rose 0.8 percentage points from a year earlier to 16.4 percent in January. It was the first year-on-year increase since 2021.

Labor groups are urging the government to create more stable and sustainable jobs for young people.

"Most jobs available to young people today are unstable, irregular positions," Jeon Ho-il, spokesperson for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said. "This job insecurity is pushing more young people into the 'resting' category."

Jeon warned of a vicious cycle in which young people, discouraged by low-quality jobs and rising housing costs, turn to risky investments in cryptocurrency or stocks in hopes of financial security, only to suffer further losses.

"We need to focus on creating high-quality jobs with better pay, benefits and long-term stability," he said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.