SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's employment declined 277,000 in July from a year ago, keeping a downward trend for the fifth consecutive month, statistical office data showed Wednesday.

File photo: CFP

The monthly job losses were 195,000 in March, 476,000 in April, 392,000 in May and 352,000 in June respectively on a yearly basis, according to Statistics Korea.

The hiring rate for those aged 15 or higher fell 1.0 percentage point over the year to 60.5 percent in July, marking the lowest July figure in nine years since 2011.

The number of those unemployed was 1,138,000 in July, up 41,000 from a year earlier. It was the highest July figure since relevant data began to be compiled in 1999.

Unemployment rate added 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier to 4.0 percent in July, posting the highest July reading since 2000.