Employment Rate in South Korea decreased to 63.60 percent in June from 63.80 percent in May 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 decreased to 2.60 percent in June from 2.70 percent in May of 2025. 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.

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Total: From 25 to 54 Years for Korea (LREM25TTKRM156S) from Jun 1999 to Apr 2025 about 25 to 54 years, employment-population ratio, Korea, employment, population, and rate.

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.

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).

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).

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Korea (LRHUTTTTKRQ156S) from Q1 1990 to Q1 2025 about Korea, harmonized, unemployment, persons, and rate.

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.

Key information about South Korea Labour Force Participation Rate

• South Korea Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 63.7 % in Feb 2025, compared with 63.4 % in the previous month.
• South Korea Labour Force Participation Rate is updated monthly, available from Jun 1999 to Feb 2025, with an average rate of 62.4 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 65.4 % in May 2024 and a record low of 59.2 % in Jan 2011.
• South Korea Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by Statistics Korea.
• In the latest reports, South Korea Population reached 51.8 million people in Dec 2024.
• Unemployment Rate of South Korea dropped to 2.7 % in Feb 2025.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 3,200.2 USD in Dec 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Korea (LREMTTTTKRQ156S) from Q3 1999 to Q1 2025 about 15 years +, employment-population ratio, Korea, employment, population, and rate.

South Korea: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 2.6 percent, a decline from 2.67 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1991 to 2024 is 3.32 percent. The minimum value, 2.05 percent, was reached in 1996 while the maximum of 6.96 percent was recorded in 1998.

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.

Youth Unemployment Rate in South Korea decreased to 6.10 percent in June from 6.60 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Youth Unemployment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Employment: Year Avg: Female: 25 to 29 Years Old data was reported at 1,095.000 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,069.000 Person th for 2016. Employment: Year Avg: Female: 25 to 29 Years Old data is updated yearly, averaging 1,133.000 Person th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,297.000 Person th in 2008 and a record low of 1,052.000 Person th in 2015. Employment: Year Avg: Female: 25 to 29 Years Old data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G031: Employment Rate & Employment: Year Average (Annual).

Employment: Year Avg: Male: 15 to 19 Years Old data was reported at 114.000 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 113.000 Person th for 2016. Employment: Year Avg: Male: 15 to 19 Years Old data is updated yearly, averaging 110.000 Person th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 188.000 Person th in 2000 and a record low of 72.000 Person th in 2009. Employment: Year Avg: Male: 15 to 19 Years Old data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G031: Employment Rate & Employment: Year Average (Annual).

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.