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South Korea aims to create 1.56 million jobs in the public sector to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on the job market, says Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki.
The government will resume its plan to open about 1 million jobs in the public sector, hiring for which was delayed by the pandemic, by easing social distancing rules.
The rest of the jobs to be offered, amounting to 550,000, would be created by public firms for young people.
With hiring at a standstill and social activities curtailed to limit the spread of the coronavirus, economists predict that the worst has yet to come for the employees and job seekers.
Hong noted that job cuts suffered by the service sector appeared to be spreading to the manufacturing industry last month.
He added that safeguards would be in place to protect temporary and freelance jobs.
