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Urban salary earners with high school diplomas took home W2 million (US$2,000) a month this year, and college graduates W3 million, according to the National Statistical Office. A report published Monday shows the average monthly income of employees with a master¡¯s degree approached W4 million, making for an increase of W1 million per higher education degree.
By contrast, the monthly income of urban workers without high school diplomas decreased for the first time since the 1997 financial crisis, widening the gap with the better educated.
The monthly income of urban workers with high school diplomas from January to September this year was W2.05 million, a 3.4 percent increase from last year (W1.99 million) and exceeding W2 million for the first time. The average monthly income of college graduates during the same period increased from W2.89 million to W3 million or 3.9 percent, while that of Master's degree holders rose from W3.93 million to W3.99 million or 1.5 percent.
On the other hand, the average income of workers without high school diplomas shrank from 1.4 million to 1.36 million, a 3 percent decrease, and that of those who finished elementary school only from W1.15 million to W1.12 million, down 2.9 percent.
Korea Labor Institute researcher Kim Dong-bae said, ¡°The income gap according to education is widening as workers in their 50s or older -- the age group with mostly low education background -- retire from regular jobs and become relegated to irregular status amid a tendency to prefer staff with higher education.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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