Half of Wage Workers Earn Less Than 3 Million Won Monthly…Income Inequality Deepens
In the first half of this year, roughly 5 out of 10 wage workers were found to earn less than an average monthly salary of 3 million won. Meanwhile, high-income workers earning over 5 million won monthly increased by 270,000 compared to a year ago, showing a distinct phenomenon of wage polarization.
![[Seoul=Newsis] In the first half of this year, 48.1% of wage workers received less than 3 million won monthly. Workers earning 5 million won or more increased by 270,000 from a year earlier. Those earning less than 1 million won numbered 2.197 million, an increase of 53,000. Looking at wage distribution by industry, in the accommodation and food service industry, 24.3% of workers earned less than 1 million won and 22.6% earned between 1 million and 2 million won, with those earning less than 2 million won accounting for 46.9%. In contrast, in the finance and insurance industry, the proportion of workers earning 5 million won or more was as high as 40.5%. (Graphic=Reporter An Ji-hye)hokma@newsis.com /An Ji-hye / Newsis](https://www.suwonilbo.kr/img/write/pa57a1561de4a1ac64b6ab8e7fa508edbba467dcc.jpg)
According to the "Industrial and Occupational Characteristics of Employed Persons in the First Half Regional Employment Survey" released by Statistics Korea on the 22nd, among 22.373 million total wage workers, the proportion earning an average monthly wage of less than 3 million won was 48.1%.
By income bracket, '2 million to less than 3 million won' accounted for the largest share at 29.0%. This was followed by 'less than 1 million won' at 9.8% and '1 million to less than 2 million won' at 9.3%. In particular, the low-wage bracket of less than 1 million won also increased slightly compared to a year earlier, revealing the shadow of low-wage labor.
On the other hand, the proportion of workers earning 3 million won or more expanded to 51.9% compared to the same period last year. In particular, high-income workers earning 5 million won or more were counted at 3.931 million (17.6%), increasing by 270,000 from a year earlier and marking a record high. 'Between 3 million and less than 4 million won' accounted for 22.8%, and 'between 4 million and less than 5 million won' was 11.5%.
Income disparities by industry were also pronounced. In specialized occupations such as finance and insurance, information and communications, and professional, scientific and technical services, the proportion of high-wage workers earning 5 million won or more was high, while in accommodation and food service, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and health and social welfare services, low-wage workers were overwhelming.
Experts point out that while high-wage jobs are increasing centering on high-value-added industries, low-skilled and short-term jobs are simultaneously growing on the other side, further widening income disparities among workers.
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