More Middle-Aged Workers in Gyeonggi Province: Labor Force Participation Rate Hits 77.8%, Highest Since COVID-19

The economic activity of the middle-aged population in Gyeonggi Province has been continuously expanding since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Gyeonggi Province's middle-aged statistics released on July 22, the economically active population of middle-aged adults (aged 40 to 64) in the province reached 4,414,000 last year, with a labor force participation rate of 77.8%. This was the highest rate recorded since 2020.

The labor force participation rate refers to the proportion of the working-age middle-aged population who are either employed or actively seeking employment. In Gyeonggi Province, this rate dropped to 74.4% in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, but has since steadily recovered, rising to 76.7% in 2022, 77.1% in 2023, and 77.8% in 2025.

The number of employed middle-aged individuals also increased. Last year, 4,330,000 middle-aged people were employed—an increase of 33,000 from the previous year—and the employment rate stood at 76.3%. During the same period, the overall middle-aged population decreased by 13,000, yet the number of employed individuals rose.

Notably, compared to the overall employment rate in Gyeonggi Province, which was 63.8%, the middle-aged employment rate was 12.5 percentage points higher. This demonstrates that the middle-aged population is the core age group driving economic activity in Gyeonggi Province. By age group, the labor force participation rate was highest among those aged 40 to 49 at 81.2%, followed by 79.2% for those aged 50 to 59, and 67.3% for those aged 60 to 64.

Current Status of Economically Active Population in Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi Province is responding swiftly to these changes. It has established the Baby Boomer Opportunity Division, the only dedicated department for middle-aged policies in the nation, and is actively pursuing various policies to foster the middle-aged population as a key driver of local growth and essential human resources, rather than simply as a target for welfare. While previous middle-aged policies focused primarily on reemployment and job support, Gyeonggi Province has restructured its policy framework around two main pillars: employment opportunities and life-stage transition support.

The province provides a step-by-step support system that encompasses job training, work experience, and employment linkage through initiatives such as the Middle-Aged Job Campus, middle-aged internship programs, Baby Boomer Social Contribution Activities Support, and Baby Boomer Light Job, thereby promoting reemployment, job transitions, and social participation.

Among these, the life transition support policy comprehensively assists middle-aged individuals in critical life transitions—such as retirement, job changes, and preparing for later life—by offering counseling, education, community building, and connecting people to work and activities. Gyeonggi Province supports life planning counseling, education, and community activities centered around the Middle-aged Happiness Campus and offers opportunities to explore new work and lifestyles and gain hands-on social participation through the nation's first gap year program for the middle-aged, the 'Middle-aged In-Turn (人-Turn) Camp.'

A representative from Gyeonggi Province stated, "To respond to the rapidly changing demographic structure, it is essential to implement policies that support the economic activity and social participation of the middle-aged and older population. Gyeonggi Province will continue to closely analyze policy needs based on statistical analysis, strengthen customized support for each stage of life, and pursue sustainable population policies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.