Number of regular workers on rise: report

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of regular workers who enjoy greater job
stability than temporary workers has increased steadily in recent years despite
the sluggish economy, a government report said Sunday.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) said as of September there were 9.60
million people employed as so-called regular workers, up 5.1 percent on-year.
South Korea classifies regular workers as those who have employment contracts of
one year or longer.
The statistical office said that at the current rate, the number of regular
workers may surpass the 10 million mark in the first half of 2010, when the
economy is expected to post positive growth of around 4 percent.
???The gains represent steady growth in the service sector, centered on more
workers hired in technology, education, healthcare and social welfare positions,"
an official said.
For this year, Asia's fourth-largest economy may witness a contraction of around
1 percent compared to the year before as the global financial crisis has hurt
trade, private consumption and business investments.
There were 9.14 million regular workers in September 2008, when Lehman Brothers
collapsed, but the number fell to 9.06 million in the last month of the year
before making a comeback this year. The number reached 9.47 million in August,
the NSO said.
The latest findings, meanwhile, showed the number of self-employed people falling
5.4 percent on-year last month to 5.73 million.
The self-employed market has been on the decline since those workers were hurt
the most by sluggish economic conditions.
Government policymakers said there is a need to push forward restructuring in
self-employed job sectors that do not have sufficient competitiveness.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)