Last year, the number of dual-income non-cohabiting households was recorded at 856,000. The number of 'long-distance' households living apart for job purposes reached an all-time high. Although the number of dual-income households slightly decreased compared to 2023, the proportion of dual-income households in their 30s and 40s showed an upward trend.
According to the '2024 second half regional employment survey on dual-income households and employment status of single-person households' released by the Statistics Korea on the 19th, the number of dual-income households last year was 6,086,000, a decrease of 29,000 households from the previous year. The proportion of dual-income households among married households was also 48%, which is a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the previous year.
By the age of the household head, the proportion of dual-income households was highest at 61.5% for those aged 30-39, followed by 59.2% for those aged 40-49. The proportion of dual-income households in their 30s and 40s increased by 2.6 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively, compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the proportion of dual-income households among the youth (ages 15-29) decreased by 2.2 percentage points, and the proportion among those aged 60 and over also fell by 0.6 percentage points.
The proportion of dual-income households has continuously risen since 2020 (45.0%) and reached an all-time high of 48.2% in 2023, but it turned downward last year. A representative from Statistics Korea noted, 'In 2023, there were so many dual-income households that there was a base effect,' adding that 'the poor employment situation among the youth and the deterioration of employment among men in their 60s were also reasons for the decrease in dual-income couples.' The worsening employment situation for the youth and the decrease in jobs in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries impacted the decrease in the number of dual-income households.
The number of households maintaining dual income while living apart from their spouses reached an all-time high. Last year, the number of non-cohabiting dual-income households was 856,000, accounting for 14.1% of all dual-income households. This is an increase of 44,000 households (0.8 percentage points) compared to the previous year (812,000 households, 13.3%).
Among married households with children under 18, the proportion of dual-income households was also the highest ever at 58.5%. According to Statistics Korea, there were 2,304,000 dual-income households with children under 18, a decrease of 22,000 households compared to the previous year, but the proportion increased as married households with children under 18 decreased more significantly.
Meanwhile, all statistics related to single-person households also recorded all-time highs. Last year, the number of single-person households was 8,003,000, an increase of 616,000 households compared to the previous year, and among them, the number of employed households was 5,100,000, an increase of 426,000 households from the previous year. The proportion of employed households among single-person households was 63.7%, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.
In terms of average monthly wages for single-person households (excluding self-employed), 31.9% earned between 200,000 and 300,000 won, making it the highest proportion, followed by 25.3% earning between 300,000 and 400,000 won, and 22.1% earning over 400,000 won. Those earning below 100,000 won accounted for 11.2%, and those earning between 100,000 and 200,000 won made up 9.4%.
By industry, the proportion of earners with monthly incomes of less than 100,000 won in the health and social welfare services sector was the highest at 37.3%. In contrast, in the finance and insurance sector (45.6%), information and communication sector (40.6%), and professional, scientific, and technical services sector (40.6%), the proportion of high earners making over 400,000 won was significant.