8월 기준 비경제활동인구 1600만명 넘어

Statistics Korea released a survey on the economically inactive people in the nation for the month of August.
Latest data shows the upward trend in recent years continue, partly due to growing aging population.
Kim Hyesung breaks down the numbers for us.
The number of economically inactive people in Korea has gone up by more than 200-thousand over a two-year period.
Economically inactive refers to people aged over 15 who have the ability but choose not to look for a job and those who are unable to work due to illness.
Statistics Korea says around 16 million Koreans were economically inactive in August, up 1-point-three percent from August 2016.
The percentage of the population that is economically inactive was the same as two years ago, at 36-point-six percent.
By age group, those over 60 years old accounted for more than 38 percent of the economically inactive population.
They said the main reason for not finding a job is because of health issues.
The next largest economically inactive groups were those aged between 15 and 19 and those in their 20s.
"Due to growing aging population, the number of the economically inactive people has shown an upward trend in recent years."
The percentage of college degree holders who were economically inactive has gone up one-point-three percent, hitting 23% in August 2018.
Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.