People aged over 55 outnumbered those between 15 and 29 years of age in the working population in Seoul last year, reflecting the aging society and growing youth jobless, the metropolitan government said on Monday.

This demographic reversal among the employed is the first since employment statistics began in 1989.

The number of working Seoul citizens aged over 55 reached 956,000 in 2012, a 54.4 percent increase from 619,000 in 2002.

During the same period, the corresponding number of workers between the ages of 15 and 29 dropped from 1.2 million to 903,000, a 25.1 percent reduction.

More youth are delaying their entrance into the job market for extended study and employment preparation. The number of young people is falling due to the low birthrate, and more elderly citizens are working due to rising living costs.

By Lee Sang-ju (sjlee370@heraldcorp.com)