South Koreans are at their most miserable state in seven years in terms of job and living expense woes, an opposition party lawmaker claimed.

The so-called misery index, cited to measure the state of an average wage earner by reflecting the biggest factors to their livelihood - the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate added to the annual inflation rate - was at 5.5 in October, said Rep. Choo Kyung-ho of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Monday. The October figure was highest since 6.5 reading in 2011.

In October, unemployment rate hit 3.5 percent, the worst for October in 13 years as manufacturers continued to shed jobs amid ongoing streamlining and service sectors cut hiring on sluggish demand. In the same month, consumer prices rose 2.0 percent against a year ago period, the fastest for October in six years.

Jobs for the low income diminished this year from spike in minimum wage and will likely worsen after the hourly wage goes up by another 10.9 percent from next year, he said.

By Ko Jae-man and Cho Jeehyun

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]