Employment Rate in South Korea increased to 63.80 percent in May from 63.20 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, South Korea's employment rate was **** percent, up from **** percent in the previous year. The rate has been steadily increasing, except for a decline in 2020 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Unemployment Rate in South Korea remained unchanged at 2.70 percent in May. This dataset provides - South Korea Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the employment rate in South Korea was **** percent, slightly up from about **** percent in the previous year. While those aged 30 to 39 had the highest employment rate at around **** percent, the rate was lowest among teenagers and twenty-year-olds.

In 2024, the employment rates in South Korea were approximately **** percent for men and **** percent for women. While the employment rate for men was significantly higher than that for women, the rate for women has steadily increased over the past decade. Gender equality in South Korea Gender equality is a crucial issue in South Korea. The country has the largest pay gap between men and women among OECD nations. Despite numerous efforts to promote women's rights, the gap remains significant across all areas of society. Although more women are taking on leadership and decision-making roles, a survey indicated that few respondents are optimistic about a near-term improvement in gender inequality. Changing perspectives on career and marriage As more women enter the workforce, fewer South Korean women choose to marry and start families. An increasing number of South Korean women are opting to delay or forgo marriage altogether, reflecting a growing sentiment that marriage is not a necessity for a fulfilling life. This trend is reflected in the country's birth rate, which has fallen to a record low of **** births per woman in 2024, making it the lowest among the OECD nations.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Ulsan, South Korea, was *** percent, the highest across all provinces in the country. This was followed by Daegu and Incheon at *** percent and *** percent, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, Sejong recorded the lowest unemployment rates at *** percent.

South Korea Trend Employment Rate: Age 15-74 data was reported at 67.900 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 67.500 % for 2025. South Korea Trend Employment Rate: Age 15-74 data is updated yearly, averaging 61.191 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2026, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.900 % in 2026 and a record low of 54.689 % in 1985. South Korea Trend Employment Rate: Age 15-74 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.OECD.EO: Employment and Unemployment: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual.

Youth Unemployment Rate in South Korea decreased to 6.60 percent in May from 7.30 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Youth Unemployment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

South Korea Employment Rate Gap data was reported at 0.742 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.715 % for 2025. South Korea Employment Rate Gap data is updated yearly, averaging 0.008 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2026, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.399 % in 1997 and a record low of -2.725 % in 1998. South Korea Employment Rate Gap data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.OECD.EO: Employment and Unemployment: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual.

In 2024, the age group of 20 to 29 years old experienced the highest unemployment rate in South Korea. The average unemployment rate stood at *** percent. Unemployment in South Korea The unemployment rate refers to the percentage of the economically active population not in employment but actively looking for a job. This does not include the economically inactive population, such as students, pensioners, homemakers, or discouraged workers. With a population of over ** million, South Korea has grown to become one of the world's largest economies, but struggles with increasing unemployment, especially among the youth and elderly. The unemployment situation of young people in South Korea has deteriorated sharply in recent years, while the number of economically active youth has declined steadily over the past decade. On average, young people took more than 11 months to find their first job. Reasons for youth unemployment This situation can be attributed to various social, demographic, and labor market-specific factors within the country. Despite the high level of education among youth, more and more companies are demanding concrete work experience from applicants, which is often difficult to acquire within the existing South Korean education system. It should also not be neglected that the retirement age was raised from ** to ** in 2016, but more young people, especially millennials, entered the labor market during this time. The dual labor market structure in South Korea, characterized by existing wage gaps between large and small companies, as well as between regular and irregular jobs, is another factor contributing to youth unemployment. While fewer and fewer young people are employed as regular workers, young graduates tend to prefer positions in large companies that offer permanent employment contracts.

Key information about South Korea Unemployment Rate

• South Korea Unemployment Rate dropped to 2.70% in Feb 2025, from the previously reported figure of 2.90% in Jan 2025.
• South Korea Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jun 1999 to Feb 2025, with an average rate of 3.50%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 7.30% in Jun 1999 and a record low of 2.50% in Sep 2024.
• The data is reported by reported by Statistics Korea.
• In the latest reports, South Korea Population reached 51.75 million people in Dec 2024.

Unemployment Rate in North Korea increased to 2.90 percent in 2024 from 2.80 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - North Korea Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Employment in South Korea increased by 0.80 in May of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Employment Change- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in South Korea from 2020 to 2023, with projections up until 2030. In 2023, the unemployment rate in South Korea was at around 2.71 percent. See the figures for the population of South Korea for comparison. Economy of South Korea South Korea is one of the world’s richest countries as well as a member of the G20, an organization made up of the 20 strongest economies in the world. Due to excessive growth from the 1960s to the 1990s, South Korea established itself as a developed country in the world with a strong economy and high wages. Continued economic growth is attributed to a robust export-oriented economy, which was deemed necessary for the country particularly due to a scarcity in natural resources as well as overpopulation in comparison to available living space. During the global financial crisis, South Korea surprised many economists by maintaining a stable economy and even experiencing economic growth, most notably during the peak of the crisis. Through stimulus packages as well as a high level of consumption, South Korea’s strong export-oriented economy was not affected as negatively as many other developed countries. South Korea’s economy primarily revolves around the production and export of technological goods. Some primary exports of the country include electronics, ships and automobiles. South Korea also has some of the largest shipbuilding companies worldwide, which are highly profitable but also have accumulated a rather large sum of debt over the course of several years.

Korea Unemployment Rate data was reported at 3.683 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.675 % for 2016. Korea Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.408 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2017, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.842 % in 1998 and a record low of 2.000 % in 1996. Korea Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Korea Employment Rate: Year Avg: Female data was reported at 50.800 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 50.300 % for 2016. Korea Employment Rate: Year Avg: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 48.600 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.800 % in 2017 and a record low of 47.000 % in 2000. Korea Employment Rate: Year Avg: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G030: Employment Rate & Employment: Year Average (Annual).

Korea Employment Rate: Year Avg data was reported at 60.800 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 60.600 % for 2016. Korea Employment Rate: Year Avg data is updated yearly, averaging 59.850 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 60.800 % in 2017 and a record low of 58.500 % in 2000. Korea Employment Rate: Year Avg data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G030: Employment Rate & Employment: Year Average (Annual).

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Total: From 55 to 64 Years for Korea (LREM55TTKRM156S) from Jun 1999 to Apr 2025 about 55 to 64 years, employment-population ratio, Korea, employment, population, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for the Republic of Korea (SLUEM1524ZSKOR) from 1991 to 2024 about 15 to 24 years, Korea, unemployment, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Korea (LRUNTTTTKRQ156S) from Q1 1990 to Q1 2025 about 15 years +, Korea, unemployment, and rate.