While the semiconductor industry enjoys an unprecedented boom, the construction sector has seen over 300,000 workers—primarily temporary and daily laborers—leave their jobs involuntarily, data showed.

According to an analysis of data from the National Statistics Portal (KOSIS) of the National Data Agency on Sunday (October 11), involuntary job separations in the construction industry stood at 308,663 in August this year for businesses with one or more employees, an increase of 65,493 (26.9%) from a year earlier.

The government defines involuntary job separations as workers leaving their workplaces due to reasons such as the expiration of employment contracts, restructuring, mergers, and dismissals resulting in layoffs.

This is the first time in 35 months that the number of involuntary job separations in construction has exceeded 300,000, since September 2023 when the figure reached 310,432.

Involuntary job separations in the construction sector have risen for seven consecutive months, with the magnitude of the increase generally expanding.

This marks the longest streak of increases since a 25-month consecutive rise from July 2020 to July 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cumulative construction production (constant, construction output value) for January to August of this year was provisionally tallied at a 4.4% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Building construction and civil engineering decreased by 5.3% and 1.8%, respectively.

The construction industry is also facing structural difficulties, with its labor productivity index (based on industrial production) declining year-on-year for nine consecutive quarters (27 months) from the second quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of this year.

Amidst these conditions, workers in vulnerable positions appear to have taken the hardest hit.

Of the involuntary job separations in the construction sector in August, 98.5% (304,073 workers) were temporary and daily laborers.

Regular workers accounted for a mere 1.5% (4,590 workers) of involuntary job separations.

Vacant job openings in the construction sector that temporary and daily workers could fill stood at only 1,055 positions in August.

Categorized by business size, 81.8% (252,521 workers) of involuntary job separations in construction occurred at small workplaces with fewer than 30 employees.

The difficulties faced by the construction industry are also evident in the Economically Active Population Survey, which examines the labor supply side.

The number of employed persons in the construction sector in August stood at 1.878 million, down 32,000 (1.7%) from a year earlier.

Employment in this industry has decreased year-on-year for 28 consecutive months from May 2024 to August of this year.

This marks the longest negative streak since statistics under the current methodology were first published in 2013.

Unlike construction, the semiconductor industry is leading exports and enjoying an unprecedented boom.

Although its ripple effects are relatively small, signs of employment expansion have also recently emerged.

For the "manufacture of electronic components, computers, video, audio and communication equipment," which encompasses semiconductor manufacturing, the number of employees in August this year was tallied at 398,104, an increase of 8,117 (2.1%) from a year earlier.

Those who entered this industry through hiring or other forms of employment that same month reached 10,183, up 3,153 (44.9%) from August of last year, recording the largest increase since the publication of statistics under the current methodology.

Involuntary job separations decreased by 96 (8.7%) compared to a year earlier.

While diagnosing that the job market is showing an overall trend of improvement—with the increase in total employment compared to the same period last year expanding for three consecutive months from June to August—the government plans to mobilize all administrative resources to respond to vulnerable sectors and industries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il stated during a recent parliamentary audit by the Strategy and Finance Committee, "We will continuously monitor the situation in employment-lagging industries such as manufacturing and construction while formulating response measures for each sector," adding, "We will alleviate disparities in working conditions according to employment types and company sizes, and expand protection for vulnerable workers."