Investment association reports significant loss of analyst jobs

The number of analysts at 55 securities firms tumbled 26.8 percent to 1,157 as of March 5 from four years ago, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association.

High-income analysts, once one of the most admired occupations among college students studying finance, were the dealt the hardest blow as the country’s financial industry suffered major downturn in recent years. Analysts who belong to research centers at securities houses do not directly contribute to profits.

In Korea, the number of analysts peaked at 1,580 in February 2011.

By company, Daewoo Securities had the largest pool of analysts with 76, followed by NH Investment & Securities (72) and Samsung Securities (71). Shihan Investment Corporation, Korea Investment & Securities and HMC Investment Securities also have more than 50 in-house analysts.