The Social Capital of the Labor-Excluded and Its Implications for Policy

Abstract

This paper examines the scale and characteristics of labor exclusion, which, as a key form of social exclusion, is defined broadly here as including unemployment and unstable/atypical labor. In addition, this paper presents the state of social capital amongincome-excluded groups. The characteristics and social capital of include-excluded groups were analyzed using the 2021 'Social Participation, Capital, and Perception Survey' conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Almost half of the survey respondents were classified as labor-excluded, among whom unstable/ atypical labor was pervasive. The social capital of labor-excluded groups was insufficient compared to that of non-excludedd groups, and the level of social capital of the unemployed group was very low. Based on the findings, this paper suggests expanding employment services, eliminating gaps in the social safety net, and and building up legal support for improving the rights of labor-excluded groups.