Record 3.5 Million 50-Somethings Hired in March

While it is difficult for people in their 20s and 30s to find employment, it has been found that the number of people working in their 50s has significantly increased. According to the National Statistical Office, the number of employees in their 50s this March was 3.5 million, a 7.4 percent increase, compared to 3.26 million in March last year.

During the same period, the number of people hired in their 20s and 30s dropped 1.7 percent, and the total number of hired workers rose a mere 0.9 percent. The reason for this is that people in their fifties actively sought employment after retirement in part time jobs, but the younger generation tended to avoid them.

An official from the National Statistical Office explained, “This is the highest number of hires in history for this age group. This shows that people in their 50s are not avoiding difficult jobs.”

Thus, of the total number of newly hired workers, people in their 50s make up 15.5 percent, which is a 0.9 percent increase from the same month last year (14.6 percent).

The yearly employment growth rate of people in their 50s is relatively high, recording 2.5 percent in 2000, 2.1 percent in 2001, 4.7 percent in 2002, 2.4 percent in 2003, and 5.1 percent in 2004.

The monthly average of the same group has also grown, from 2.83 million in 1999 to 3.33 million in 2004.

legman@donga.com