Home » News » 70,000 foreign unemployed people, the highest in history… The impact of the construction and manufacturing industry slump due to corona

70,000 foreign unemployed people, the highest in history… The impact of the construction and manufacturing industry slump due to corona

Input 2020.12.21 12:00

This year, the number of unemployed foreigners increased by 38.3% compared to the previous year. Due to the economic downturn and social distancing caused by the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), the construction industry, where many foreigners work, and the mining and manufacturing industries are sluggish. In addition, the number of foreigners who came to visit work visas also decreased by 25.9%.

According to the ‘2020 Immigration Status and Employment Survey Results’ of the National Statistical Office on the 21st, the number of foreign unemployed as of May this year increased by 19,000 (38.2%) to 70,000. This is the highest since statistics related to 2012 were compiled. The unemployment rate was 7.6%, up 2.1 percentage points (P) from the previous year. On the other hand, the number of foreign workers employed during the same period was 848,000, down 15,000 (1.8%) from a year ago.

Source = Statistics Korea

The number of foreign employed by industry increased from the previous year in agriculture, forestry and fisheries (5000 people, 9.2%), electricity, transportation, communications, and finance (5000 people, 37.1%). However, it decreased in the mining and manufacturing industries (20,000, -5.0%) and construction (-10,000, -10.0%).

The reason for the decrease in the number of employed people is that the number of foreigners who have received visiting work visas due to Corona 19 is decreasing, and that the construction industry and mining and manufacturing industries, which use a lot of foreign workers, are not good.

Usually, visitation work visas are mainly received by the Korean-Chinese, and most are directly captured by the economically active population and employed. However, this year, the number of foreigners who visited Korea for visiting employment status decreased by 41,000 (25.9%). This is the effect of reduced inflow due to Corona 19.

By wage level, the survey was 2 million to 3 million won (51.1%), 1 million to 2 million won (27.8%), 3 million won or more (16.4%), and less than 1 million won (4.8%). The job search period was less than 3 months (34.4%), 3 months to less than 6 months (33.6%), 6 months to less than 1 year (1.1%), and more than 1 year (0.4%).

The total number of resident foreigners increased by 9000 (0.7%) to 1332,000. The number of economically active people aged 15 and over was 917,000, an increase of 4,000 (0.4%) from the previous year. However, the economic activity participation rate decreased by 68.9% by 0.2%p from the previous year.

The inactive population was 414,000, an increase of 5,000 (1.3%) from the previous year. By activity status, it increased in terms of rest (16,000 people, 19.8%) and childcare and housekeeping (8,000 people, 5.5%) than in 2019. On the other hand, it decreased in preparation for admission to school and employment (-6000, -25.9%) and others (-14,000, -19.7%).

By nationality, Korean-Chinese Asians were the most at 490,000. This was followed by Other Asia (410,000), China (172,000), and Non-Asian (13,1200). By status of residence ▲Non-professional employment (E-9) 2,52100 people ▲Visit employment (H-2) 160,000 people ▲Professional manpower (E-1~E-7) 39800 people ▲International students 137,000 ▲Overseas Koreans There were 330,000, 500,000 ▲ 114,800 permanent residents ▲ 125,500 married immigrants ▲ and 170,000 others.

Chung Dong-wook, head of the Statistical Office’s Employment Statistics Division, said, “In terms of industry, the fields where foreign workers work the most are manufacturing, lodging, construction, etc., accounting for about 68% of the total.” , Last May, due to economic blockades such as social distancing, the number of foreign employed as a result decreased by 19,000. The impact of the decrease in the number of unemployed in Korea due to Corona 19 is spreading to foreign workers as it is.”

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