The number of South Koreans who are able to work but instead are opting to take a rest has exceeded two million for the first time.
According to Statistics Korea, among the so-called economically inactive individuals, those who were skilled to work yet chose to rest reached an all-time high of 2,092,000 last year.
The figure represents a 12.8 percent on-year rise, the highest increase rate seen in 8 years, rising across all ages.
Analysts attribute the trend to the sluggish economy last year that affected the country's overall employment conditions.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
