South Korea’s wage gap hits record as more seniors take low-paid part-time jobs

SEOUL – The wage gap between regular and non-regular workers in South Korea has reached its highest level on record, driven largely by a surge in low-paid, part-time jobs among the country’s rapidly ageing population.

New data released on Oct 22 by the Ministry of Data and Statistics (formerly Statistics Korea) showed that non-regular workers – those in part-time, temporary and contract roles – earned an average monthly wage of 2.09 million won (S$1,886) between June and August.

Over the same period, regular employees earned 3.90 million won on average, creating a record gap of 1.81 million won.

This marks the widest disparity since wage data was first compiled in 2004.

Officials attribute a significant portion of this growing divide to the expansion of older adults working in caregiving and welfare-related sectors.

For the first time, the number of non-regular workers aged 60 and older surpassed three million, an increase of 233,000 from the previous year.

This group now makes up 35.5 per cent of all non-regular workers, the highest share ever recorded.

“Many of these workers are participating in government-run employment programmes for older adults,” said Mr Song Jun-haeng, employment statistics director at the ministry. “We’re seeing notable growth in caregiving and social welfare roles, especially as demand for elder care and health services increases alongside population ageing.”

Stuck in part-time care jobs

Jobs in the health and social welfare sector accounted for the largest share of non-regular employment at 20.5 per cent, or about 1.76 million workers. That’s a year-on-year increase of 210,000, the biggest of any industry tracked in the report.

While these jobs are plentiful, they remain some of the lowest-paid in the labour market, and many are part-time. This is a key reason non-regular workers’ wages have stagnated even as employment numbers rise.

Excluding part-time roles, the average monthly wage for non-regular workers rises to 3.04 million won, reducing the gap with regular employees to 859,000 won.

However, part-time caregiving jobs are expanding faster than other non-regular roles, keeping downward pressure on the average.

The total number of non-regular workers in South Korea reached 8.57 million in August, up 110,000 from a year earlier.

That’s 38.2 per cent of all wage workers, a figure unchanged from the previous year. Regular workers numbered 13.85 million, up 160,000 from 2024.

Women made up a record 57.4 per cent of the non-regular workforce. Among all non-regular workers, 32.2 per cent said they had not chosen their employment type voluntarily. Most cited urgent income needs or a lack of positions suited to their skills or experience.

The age profile of South Korea’s non-regular workforce continues to shift as the country ages.

For the first time, there are more non-regular workers aged 70 and older (1.21 million) than in their 40s (1.20 million).

The number of workers in their 30s also rose, now accounting for 13.3 percent of the group. In contrast, non-regular employment declined among those under 30, in their 40s and in their 50s. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK