Korean Brokerage Jobs Hit 39,711, Highest in 17 Years as KOSPI Tops 8,000

5 articles · Updated · 코리아타임스 · May 27

39,711 people worked at Korean securities firms at the end of the first quarter, up 181 from the prior quarter and 819 from a year earlier, marking the industry's highest employment level in 17 years.
The hiring surge tracked the KOSPI's rapid climb from the 2,000 range to above 8,000 in less than a year, with brokerages adding 292 jobs in last year's fourth quarter when the index first crossed 4,000.
Mirae Asset Securities remained the biggest employer with 3,475 staff, while NH Investment & Securities had 3,135 and Korea Investment & Securities 2,978 after modest headcount increases.
710 domestic brokerage branches remained at the end of the first quarter, down 32 from a year earlier, showing firms are adding staff even as mobile trading keeps shrinking physical networks.
113,230 people worked at domestic banks at the end of last year, down 652, and bank payrolls are expected to fall further after nearly 2,400 workers left five major lenders through voluntary retirement.

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