[Graphic News] Korea’s employment rate drops slightly

South Korea’s employment rate inched down in August mainly due to job losses in the wholesale and retail sector, data showed Wednesday.

According to a report by Statistics Korea, the employment rate stood at 60.7 percent last month, down from 61.1 percent in July.

The South Korean economy also added 256,000 jobs in August, down from 326,000 in July, marking the first time since April that the number has fallen below the 300,000 mark.

The manufacturing sector created some 156,000 jobs last month, up 3.6 percent on-year. But such gains were offset by losses in agro-fisheries, financial and wholesale and retail sectors, officials said.