Unemployment Rate in Seoul Downward

The unemployment rate in Seoul is decreasing as the Korean economy shows healthy signs of recovery.
According to the Seoul Statistical Office on June 22, Seoul's unemployment rate last May recorded 7.1 percent, down 0.5 percentage points on the previous month. The jobless total reached 360,000, falling by 22,000 from last April.
The unemployment rate in Seoul was lower than in any other large city including Busan (9.6 percent), Inchon (8.5 percent), Kwangju (8.1 percent), and Taegu (7.6 percent) while it was higher than the nation's average (6.5 percent).
Seoul has seen a decreasing trend in its joblessness rate over the past three months. March and April recorded 8.5 percent and 7.6 percent respectively, following February's 9.3 percent, the highest figure since the second half of 1998.
An official at the Office said that the favorable upturn in manufacturing businesses, including construction, and the services industry have played a large part in the decline of the unemployment rate.
Jangsoo Seo:jsbee@joongang.co.kr