Seoul: Leading companies in South Korea have more employees aged 50 or older than those in their 20s, as indicated by industry data. This shift partly reflects decreased hiring of young workers amid an economic slowdown.

According to Yonhap News Agency, data from corporate tracker Leaders Index revealed that the share of 20-something employees at 124 top companies in terms of sales was 19.8 percent by the end of 2024, marking a 1.2 percentage point decrease from the previous year.

In contrast, the proportion of workers aged 50 or older reached 20.1 percent, showing an increase of 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous year. This marks the first instance since 2015, when Leaders Index began compiling such data, that workers in their 20s have been surpassed in number by those aged 50 and above. Additionally, the ratio of workers under 30 years also fell below 20 percent for the first time.

This demographic shift was particularly prominent in the battery sector, where over the past three years, the share of workers in their 20s dropped by 9.7 percentage points. Meanwhile, the proportion of workers aged 50 and above increased by 1.2 percentage points. The information technology and electronics sector also experienced a similar trend, with the percentage of 20-something workers declining by 5.4 percentage points.

An official at Leaders Index commented on the situation, stating, "Due to sluggish economic conditions, many industries have reduced new hiring, while older employees are delaying retirement."