South Korea’s central bank reported a rise in young adults aged 20 to 34 who are neither working nor seeking employment, increasing from 14.6% in 2019 to 22.3% in 2025.

The number of individuals in this group who do not want to work at all grew to around 450,000 last year, up from 287,000 in 2019.

The Bank of Korea linked this trend to structural factors such as AI-driven changes in the labor market, companies’ preference for experienced workers, and slower economic growth.

The report noted that these young people do not necessarily have high wage expectations, with an average minimum expected annual salary of about 31 million won (US$21,000).

Experts warned that a sustained increase in youth disengagement could impact labor supply and long-term economic growth, calling for policies to encourage youth re-entry into the labor market and improve employment conditions.

🔗 Source: Yonhap

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