South Korea’s employment rose by 234,000 in February from a year earlier, surpassing the 200,000 mark for the first time in three months, while the employment rate reached a record high for the month, government data showed on Wednesday. The employment rate for those aged 15 and over rose to 61.8%, with the labor force participation rate also hitting a February high, reflecting continued labor market resilience.

Job gains were driven by the services sector, particularly health and welfare, as public hiring programs resumed and demand increased ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Manufacturing employment remained in decline, though