54% Non-Regular Workers… Average Wage 1.86 Million Won

  The employment rate for people with disabilities in Korea remains significantly below the national average. Analysis indicates persistent vulnerabilities in the employment structure, such as a concentration of non-regular and part-time work and low wage levels, making it difficult for people with disabilities to enter and establish themselves in the labor market.

  According to the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled’s ‘2025 First Half Survey on the Economic Activity Status of Persons with Disabilities’ report released on the 20th, the employment rate for persons with disabilities aged 15 and over was 40.1%, 21.6 percentage points lower than the general population (61.7%). The unemployment rate was also recorded at 5.5%, higher than the general population (3.6%).

  The report indicates that among wage-earning persons with disabilities, the proportion of non-regular workers was 54%, significantly exceeding the overall labor market average (36%). Notably, short-time workers employed less than 36 hours per week accounted for 42.9% of all employed persons with disabilities, indicating a concentration in jobs with short working hours and unstable employment. Furthermore, the average monthly wage for wage-earning persons with disabilities over the past three months was 1.86 million won, showing a significant gap compared to the average for all wage earners (3.13 million won).

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  Conversely, the willingness of persons with disabilities to work actually increased compared to last year. 28.3% responded that they would participate immediately within three months if jobs or vocational training were provided.

  The most needed support areas included job training provision (52.4%), job placement tailored to disability characteristics (45.8%), and assistive technology support (33.1%). Notably, over 40% of the unemployed responded that “the current labor market situation will worsen,” indicating significant anxiety about employment stability.

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*Please note this is a Korean article

Source: Bridge Economy