Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |

The status of mandatory employment of the disabled evaluated until December of last year 2023 is announced by Lee Jeong-sik, the Minister of Employment on May 23.

The overall average employment rate of the disabled in 2023 was seen 3.17%, 3.86% in the public sector, and

2.99% in the private sector as per Ministry of labor and employment. 

Looking at the 10-years trend, the employment rate and size of the disabled continued to rise, and the rate of public sector was higher than the private sector.

The employment rate of disabled people in the public sector was 5.9% in local governments, 3.90% in public institutions, 3.43% in central administrative agencies, 2.86% in constitutional agencies, and 2.51% in education departments. 

It is believed that local governments played a pivotal role by actively recruiting people with disabilities in job creation projects, and by requiring public institutions to ‘disclose employment status of people with ‘disabilities.

However, the employment rate in the government sector (excluding public institutions in the public sector) include 2.86% civil servants and 6.14% non-civil servants with disabilities respectively. 

As per Ministry report, the employment rate for non-civil servants greatly exceeded the mandatory employment rate, but it was found to be low for civil servants as there were many civil servants in specific positions such as teachers and military civil servants who had difficulty hiring disabled people.

The employment rate of disabled people in private companies is 2.99% and continues to trend upward. 

According to the Ministry report, the employment rate of companies with 1000 or more employees is increased by 0.11% compared to the previous year, becoming a major factor showcase increase in the overall employment rate of the disabled. 

Moreover, the number of disabled people employed is 215,195, and companies with 500 or more employees (2,067, 6.7% of the total 30,897 companies) counts for 109,703 people, or 51%.

Lim Young-mi, Director of the Integrated Employment Policy Bureau, said, “The public sector is exceeding the mandatory employment rate, but in areas where it is relatively difficult to hire disabled people.”

“We will form a task force with related ministries and actively encourage them to increase the employment

rate.”

“Additionally, we are strengthening support to expand sustainable quality jobs in the case of private companies, such as significantly expanding consulting for companies that have difficulty hiring disabled people and easing regulations on establishing subsidiary-type standard workplaces, which are greatly contributing to create jobs for people with severe disabilities” Lim said.