It said the shipbuilding industry has been shedding jobs from the July-September period of 2015 to the present. The latest findings also showed drops in the jobs at carmakers, metal manufacturing, textiles and printing industries, although some other areas added positions.

In the first quarter alone, carmaking-related jobs were slashed by 3,532 posts as GM Korea Co. said it would close one of its four plants in the country.

The drop in jobs mirrors the poor showing of the manufacturing sector this year.

In the three months ending in March, output in transportation equipment was down 17 percent on-year, with corresponding numbers for auto and trailer manufacturers falling 10.5 percent. Metalwork jobs decreased 7.2 percent on-year.

On the latest developments, market watchers said the decrease is a source of concern because many such jobs provide good wages that are generally higher than other industries.

Labor ministry data showed that full-time workers in the manufacturing sector earned an average of 3.6 million won per month last year.

"This kind of trend is not good for the country's job situation as a whole," a labor expert said.

 On the other hand, the findings showed that there has been a steady increase in temporary positions in the manufacturing sector.

Numbers for such jobs rose by 2,856 in the first quarter vis-a-vis the year before. (Yonhap)