SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's economically inactive population rose for the past year amid the fast-rising number of the so-called "take-a-rest" group, who are available for work but have no intention to get a job, statistical office data showed Tuesday.

The number of economically inactive population was 16,330,000 as of August, up 1.0 percent, or 158,000, from the same month of last year, according to Statistics Korea.

The economically inactive population refers to those aged 15 or higher who are neither employed nor unemployed.

Among the total, 5,735,000 refrained from landing a job for housework, followed by 3,708,000 for attending school and 2,220,000 for old age, respectively.

The so-called "take-a-rest" group, which replied that they took a rest during a job survey period, reached a record high of 2,173,000 in August, up 349,000 from a year earlier.

It was the highest since the statistical office began compiling the data in 2003, marking the fastest growth in more than eight and a half years.

The group is seen as an important figure because it can include those who are unemployed and too discouraged to search for work for an extended period of time.

The take-a-rest group in their 60s or higher accounted for 39.2 percent of the total, followed by those in their 50s with 20.9 percent, in their 20s with 16.1 percent and in their 30s with 11.4 percent each. 

(Photo: VCG)