The labor force participation rate among Koreans aged 15 to 29 fell in May from a year earlier, data showed Thursday, reflecting growing difficulties in finding jobs amid economic uncertainties. The rate of economically active people in the age group stood at 47.2 percent in May, down 2.3 percentage points from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The figure includes those who are employed as well as those actively seeking work. The unemployment rate for the age group came to 7.2 percent, up 0.6 percentage point from a year earlier, with the number of unemployed youths reaching 266,000, the data showed. The employment rate stood at 43.8 percent, down 2.4 percentage points over the period. The data also showed it took an average of four years and 5.7 months to complete college, including two-year degree programs, up 1.3 months from a year earlier. It marked the longest period since the agency started compiling related data in 2007. "It seems that the period was extended as more people opted to take a leave of absence from school to prepare for employment or prof