More South Korean workers are working two jobs

A rising number of self-employed workers and salaried workers are working at least two jobs as the pandemic drags on in South Korea.

Among new recruits last December, some 407,000 people had experience working at a second job, based on data by Statistics Korea. Of these, some 284,000 people were salaried workers, while 123,000 people were non-wage workers.

For non-wage workers, 97,000 people were self-employed without staff, while 12,000 people were self-employed with staff.

Although the data showed that the majority of business owners were working two jobs, some of them might have been forced to lay off their staff due to the prolonged economic turmoil caused by COVID-19, reports The Korea Bizwire. 

Statistics Korea data also showed that the number of self-employed workers increased by 75,000 over the last 12 months. 

Among salaried workers working two jobs, 163,000 people were regular employees, followed by irregular workers, comprising 105,000 people, and daily workers, comprising 17,000 people. 

READ: South Korea reaffirms pledge to create 150,000 new jobs in 2021

Separately, a survey by a South Korean job portal last year revealed that more than half of the 1,599 workers surveyed either had second jobs already or had the intention to work two jobs. 

Meanwhile, 47.4% of the self-employed said they took on a second job due to dwindling income.