The percentage of non-regular workers among the wage and salary earning population has sharply increased to 36-point-four percent.

According to August data by Statistics Korea, non-regular employees numbered seven-point-48 million out of over 20 million paid workers in the country.

Thirty-six-point-four percent is the highest ratio in 12 years since 36-point-six in March 2007.

Their number grew by more than 867-thousand from last year while the number of regular workers dropped by 353-thousand.

Statistics Korea says the sharp rise in non-regular workers is due to a newly-adopted survey method following consultations with the International Labor Organization.

It said that as a result, more part-timers and temporary workers have been counted and therefore it's difficult to make a direct comparison to last year's figures.