South Korea's total employment rose by 184,000 in August compared with a year earlier, reaching 29.15 million workers — the largest monthly gain since March, according to the country's Ministry of Data and Statistics. The overall unemployment rate held steady at 2 percent, but significant weaknesses persisted: manufacturing shed jobs for the 26th consecutive month, and the employment rate for workers aged 15 to 29 fell for the 28th straight month. Growth was driven largely by the healthcare and social welfare sector, which added 186,000 positions, offsetting losses in agriculture and the accommodation and restaurant industries.