Latest data show that South Korea's overall job situation seems to be improving... but the number of jobs in the manufacturing industry continues to fall.<br />Ko Roon-hee explains.<br />The latest report from the South Korean government shows new jobs are finally on the upswing.<br /><br />According to Statistics Korea Wednesday, the total number of employed people in May was around 27-point-three million... up 259-thousand on-year.<br />The increase was under the 200-thousand mark for 12 consecutive months until January,... but the figure started to improve in February.<br /><br />Last month's uptick was mainly due to more new jobs in the health and social work sectors,... which jumped by 124-thousand.<br />Analysts say, this comes after the government created more public sector jobs in the field.<br />Jobs in accommodation and the food service sectors also saw an increase of 60-thousand...thanks to more foreigners visiting South Korea.<br />The employment rate among people aged 15 to 64 marked 67-point-1 percent....marking the highest for the month of May since data was first compiled in 1989.<br /><br />On a grimmer note..., the number of jobs continues to decline on-year in the manufacturing sector, considered South Korea's key growth engine.<br />The number of employed people fell more than 70-thousand on year...and it has been falling on-year since April last year.<br />Analysts point to falling exports, especially to China, as the reason for the decline.<br />Latest data by Korea Customs Service show outbound shipments to China dropped by more than 26-percent on year during the first 10 days of June.<br />This is also related to a decrease in the number of jobs for people in their 30s and 40s in May...and this raises a red flag... as many people in that age range are supposed to be actively engaged in economic activities.<br /><br />To improve the country's sluggish manufacturing industry, analysts suggest diversifying South Korea's export destinations.<br />Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News.<br />
