The MERS scare is also affecting the job market here in Korea, especially the retail, food and hotel sectors,... which had been adding jobs until the outbreak began.<br />Statistics Korea says these industries added an average 138-thousand new jobs each month from January to May this year, compared to the same time last year.<br />However, the MERS outbreak has weakened consumer sentiment and people are spending less time outside.<br />According to the Korea Foodservice Industry Research Institute, restaurants saw an over 38 percent decrease in sales last week compared to two weeks ago.<br />Department store sales also dropped more than 16 percent in the first week of June compared to last year.<br />Although job numbers have yet to be collected, officials says part-time employment in those sectors will likely decrease in line with weak sales.
