SEOUL, July 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's jobless claims grew last month due to higher demand in the manufacturing and construction industries, government data showed Monday.
The number of new applicants for job-seeking benefits rose 2.4 percent from a year earlier to 86,000 in June, after sliding in single digits in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
The benefit applicants increased in the manufacturing, construction, transport, and warehousing sectors, but the reading decreased in the lodging, eatery, and public administration industries.
The job-seeking benefits are offered by the government to help the unemployed seek jobs, taking up a majority of unemployment benefits. It is financed by the state employment insurance fund.
The number of benefit recipients totaled 654,000 in June, up 5.0 percent from a year earlier.
The total payment of job-seeking benefits increased by 10.9 percent to 1.05 trillion won (761.1 million U.S. dollars) in the cited month. ■
