* Oct exports seen falling steeper than in Sept - customs
* FinMin says worried about weakness in job market
* Backs emerging view of steady rates this year (Recasts with exports, markets)
By Yoo Choonsik and Cheon Jong-woo
SEOUL, Oct 21 (Reuters) - South Korean exports this month will probably fall between 11 percent and 13 percent from a year earlier, the customs agency said, steeper than in September and raising doubts about the pace of the global recovery.
Such doubts were also reflected in comments from Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun, who said the government was concerned over the persistent weakness in the domestic job market despite signs of improvement in most other economic indicators.
Analysts said the weak export forecasts added to a case for steady interest rates this year after the central bank said two weeks ago that it was less worried about property prices and credit growth.
"That's slightly worse than I expect for the full month. But everyone has already expected the export recovery to be gradual," said Shin Dong-su, fixed-income analyst at NH Investment & Securities.
The Korea Customs Service also said in a statement on Wednesday imports in October would probably decline between 15 percent and 17 percent, which would be the smallest annual drop in 11 months.
The forecasts are based on the actual performance for the first 20 days of the month, during which exports fell 15.7 percent from a year before while imports dropped 18.6 percent, the agency said in a statement.
Exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy fell 7.8 percent in September over a year earlier, following a 10-month spell of double-digit annual declines and raising hopes global trade may be regaining some momentum.
China is South Korea's largest export market, making up more than a fifth of the total shipment, followed by the United States.
Yoon, speaking at a scheduled meeting of government officials on Wednesday, said the government was worried about the employment situation and private sector jobs were continuing to decrease.
"We are concerned that improvement in the employment situation may be slow as employment usually lags economic situations," he said.
Data showed last week the country added its most jobs in 10 months last month as companies boosted operations to meet growing demand.
Yoon's remark added with a drop in the global stock market helped lift December treasury bond futures by as much as 18 ticks to 108.58.
"The (bond) market's rise today owed to several factors such as economic concerns, stock markets and foreign buying," said Shin.
Still, three-month certificate of deposit (CD) rates and other money market rates suggest investors have priced in at least one 25 basis point increase in the policy rate until early 2010.
The Bank of Korea held the 7-day repurchase agreement rate steady at a record low of 2.0 percent for eight consecutive months earlier this month after reductions totalling 3.25 percentage points. It next reviews the rate on Nov. 12. (Editing by Kazunori Takada)