韓国企画財政部は6月17日、中東情勢の緊迫化による経済への影響が続く中、製造業、建設業、農林水産業を対象とした業種別雇用支援策を打ち出す方針を発表した。
韓国の5月の雇用者数は前年同月比で4万人減少し、17カ月ぶりに減少に転じた。15歳から29歳までの雇用率は2.4ポイント低下し、43.8％となった。
企画財政部と雇用労働部は、人口動態の変化、中途採用を重視する傾向の強まり、そして中東危機という3つの主要な課題について協議した。企画財政部は、最近の和平合意にもかかわらず不確実性は続いているとの認識を示した。
政府は利用可能なあらゆる政策手段を駆使して特定のセクターを支援するほか、AI（人工知能）の進展に伴う労働環境の変化に対応しつつ、雇用インセンティブを強化する計画である。
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South Korea lost 40,000 jobs in May from a year earlier, marking the first decline in 17 months amid the impact of the prolonged Middle East conflict on the manufacturing sector.
South Korea added 74,000 jobs in April, marking the slowest growth in 16 months amid higher oil prices and weaker consumer sentiment from the Middle East conflict.
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Statistics Korea reported on May 29 that industrial output fell 0.6 percent in April from March, with retail sales and facility investment also dropping 3.6 percent each.
The South Korean government announced on April 11 that cash assistance for the bottom 70 percent of income earners will begin rolling out later this month to ease financial strains from rising oil prices amid the Middle East crisis. Around 32.5 million people qualify, with initial payments to the most vulnerable starting April 27.
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Following its April announcement, the South Korean government started distributing cash aid on April 26 to basic livelihood security recipients and other vulnerable groups to offset rising oil prices from the Middle East conflict. Aid amounts are 550,000 won ($372) for basic livelihood recipients and 450,000 won per person for single-parent households and those just above the welfare threshold, with an extra 50,000 won for recipients outside Seoul or in declining population areas.
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Friday the government is taking extra vigilance over recent volatility in the foreign exchange market.
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A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said the government may consider another supplementary budget in the second half if the Middle East crisis persists. Hong Ik-pyo, presidential secretary for political affairs, denied opposition claims that the pending 26.2 trillion-won extra budget seeks political leverage before June 3 local elections. He cited downgraded growth forecasts and rising fuel prices.