Youth Unemployment Rate in South Korea decreased to 5.50 percent in July from 6.10 percent in June of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Youth Unemployment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 29 in South Korea stood at *** percent. The youth unemployment rate in South Korea has been declining since 2020.

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.

In 2024, the average unemployment rate for youths aged 15 to 29 was *** percent in South Korea. Most of the independent cities and provinces in Korea had rates above the average. The city of Ulsan had the highest rate of *** percent, followed by Daegu province with *** percent.

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.

korea - Youth Unemployment Rate for the Republic of Korea was 5.90% in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, korea - Youth Unemployment Rate for the Republic of Korea reached a record high of 15.46 in January of 1998 and a record low of 5.41 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for korea - Youth Unemployment Rate for the Republic of Korea - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Historical dataset showing South Korea youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Historical dataset showing North Korea youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Korea Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 10.400 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.700 % for 2016. Korea Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 9.300 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2017, with 39 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.861 % in 1998 and a record low of 6.103 % in 1996. Korea Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Korea Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 9.700 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.500 % for 2016. Korea Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 7.500 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2017, with 39 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.732 % in 1998 and a record low of 4.774 % in 1996. Korea Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

In 2024, the unemployment rate of people aged 20 to 29 years in South Korea was *** percent, down from *** percent in the previous year. The unemployment rate of people in their twenties in South Korea has significantly increased over the past 15 years.

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in South Korea was reported at 5.431 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old: Female data was reported at 802.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 779.000 Person for 2017. South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 816.500 Person from May 2007 (Median) to 2018, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 930.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 750.000 Person in 2014. South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G024: 4 Weeks Job Search: Unemployment: Youth.

South Korea: Youth unemployment, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2024 is 5.9 percent, an increase from 5.41 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 15.70 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1991 to 2024 is 8.74 percent. The minimum value, 5.41 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 15.72 percent was recorded in 1998.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in May 2024, nearly ** percent of unemployed people aged 15 to 29 years stated that they had remained unemployed for less than six months. More than ** percent of people took one or more years to find employment.

South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old data was reported at 1,487.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,444.000 Person for 2017. South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old data is updated yearly, averaging 1,420.500 Person from May 2007 (Median) to 2018, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,522.000 Person in 2008 and a record low of 1,329.000 Person in 2013. South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G024: 4 Weeks Job Search: Unemployment: Youth.

In 2024, the combined unemployment and potential labor force rate of people aged 15 to 29 in South Korea stood at about **** percent, showing a decrease from the previous year. The combined unemployment and potential labor force rate of the youth population in South Korea has been decreasing in recent years.

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 6.076 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old: Male data was reported at 685.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 666.000 Person for 2017. South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 581.500 Person from May 2007 (Median) to 2018, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 685.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 532.000 Person in 2013. South Korea Unemployment: Youth: 15 to 29 Years Old: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G024: 4 Weeks Job Search: Unemployment: Youth.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 7.409 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.