The fall in the number of workers in the construction sector hit its largest amount in nearly 12 years due to the prolonged slump in the industry.

According to the Construction and Economy Research Institute of Korea on Sunday, the number of employees in the industry stood at two million 57-thousand in September, down four-point-six percent from a year earlier.

It marks the largest on-year drop since February 2013, when it dipped five-point-six percent.

The figure for October also fell by more than four percent, at four-point-three percent.

The number of workers in the construction industry continued to drop starting in May, with a fall of two-point-two percent.