SEOUL, March 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's employment rose at the fastest pace in five months due to the continued increase in elderly jobs, statistical ministry data showed Wednesday.

The number of employed people aged 15 and older gained 234,000, or 0.8 percent, from a year earlier to 28,413,000 in February, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marked the fastest expansion since September last year, continuing to grow for the 14th consecutive month since January last year.

The overall job growth was driven by the elderly. The number of jobs for those aged 60 and older expanded by 287,000 in February on a yearly basis, while the figures for those in their 30s and 50s climbed 86,000 and 6,000, respectively.

Employment among those in their 20s dropped 163,000, while the reading for those in their 40s was unchanged in the cited month. ■