Accra:South Korea saw an addition of 113,000 jobs in September, marking the third consecutive month of employment gains exceeding 100,000, as revealed by government data on Friday. The total number of employed individuals reached 29.26 million, up from 29.15 million in the same month the previous year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the country's jobless rate decreased to 2 percent last month, a slight reduction of 0.1 percent compared to a year ago. However, the employment rate for individuals aged 15 to 29 declined by 1.1 percentage points to 44 percent. Overall, the employment rate for those aged 15 and above was 63.5 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the previous year.

In terms of industry performance, the manufacturing sector reversed its 26-month streak of job losses by adding 16,000 positions. Meanwhile, the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector experienced a reduction of 94,000 jobs, and the construction industry saw a decrease of 48,000 positions. The accommodation and restaurant sector also faced a decline, shedding 97,000 jobs, which the data ministry attributed to a base effect from last year's government voucher distribution.

On a positive note, the healthcare and social welfare sector expanded significantly, adding 207,000 jobs. The arts, sports, and recreation-related services sector also grew, with an increase of 19,000 positions. Despite these gains, the number of economically inactive individuals rose by 179,000 from a year ago, totaling 16.18 million.