By Kim Jae-kyoung
Staff Reporter

The number of unemployed male college graduates hit a four-year high in March, indicating that companies remain hesitant to recruit young job seekers.

The National Statistical Office (NSO) said Wednesday that male college graduates out of work totaled 173,000 in March, up 18,000, or 11.6 percent, from a month ago, the highest in four years since it posted 196,000 in March 2001.

The figure also represents a rise of 11,000, or 6.8 percent, from the same period last year.

Consequently, the jobless rate for male college graduates reached 3.5 percent last month, the highest in two years since it recorded 3.6 percent in March 2003.

The overall jobless rate fell to 3.9 percent in March from 4 percent in February.

After standing at 123,000 last December, the number of unemployed male college graduates has steadily increased to 131,000 in January and 155,000 in February. Their jobless rate also rose to 3.2 percent in February from 2.8 percent in January and 2.6 percent in December.

In contrast, the number of jobless female college graduates decreased to 113,000 in March, down 12,000, or 9.6 percent, from a month before, with their jobless rate falling to 4.2 percent from 4.7 percent

``Unlike female college graduates, male college graduates tend to wait until they are hired by companies they hope to work for,’’ an NSO official said.

With a surge in unemployed male college graduates, overall jobless graduates totaled 286,000 in March, the highest in 12 months since it posted 297,000.

Their jobless rate also hit a one-year high of 3.8 percent, compared with 4.1 percent a year ago.

kjk@koreatimes.co.kr