Seoul - A recent government survey has revealed that more than half of South Korean senior citizens aged 65 and over are seeking employment, highlighting a significant trend in the aging population's work aspirations. The survey conducted by Statistics Korea in May showed that 55.7 percent of seniors between ages 65 and 79 expressed a desire to continue working.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Korea Employment Information Service (KEIS), this figure marks a 0.9 percentage point increase from 54.8 percent in the same month last year and a notable rise of 12.1 percentage points from 43.6 percent in May 2013. The data suggests a growing trend among older South Koreans to remain in the workforce.
The survey further indicated gender differences in employment aspirations, with 65 percent of male seniors and 47 percent of female seniors in the age group wanting jobs, primarily for economic reasons. Additionally, about 19 percent of male seniors and 18 percent of female seniors had actively sought employment in the past year.
The KEIS report emphasized the need for government intervention to provide job opportunities, especially for low-educated seniors, to support their livelihood. This finding points to the necessity of addressing employment challenges faced by the aging population in South Korea.