South Korean job losses rose at their sharpest pace in two decades last month, despite the country avoiding a nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirus.
The employment data was released as health officials raced to control an outbreak linked to the popular Itaewon nightlife district in Seoul, highlighting concerns for other governments as they take the first steps to lift crippling lockdowns.
Asia’s fourth-largest economy lost 476,000 jobs in April, the worst monthly decline since 1999 when the country was emerging from the Asian financial crisis, according to official data. Some 782,000 temporary workers also lost their jobs, even though South Korea kept most of its economy open.