Employment Rate in North Korea remained unchanged at 74.20 percent in 2015 from 74.20 percent in 2014. This dataset provides - North Korea Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

North Korea: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 2.86 percent, an increase from 2.83 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1991 to 2024 is 2.83 percent. The minimum value, 2.3 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 3.07 percent was recorded in 2001.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 2.859 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 86.937 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 86.941 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 87.896 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 89.184 % in 1996 and a record low of 86.937 % in 2017. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 15.8 percent of North Korean refugees in South Korea stated that they were employed in the manufacturing sector. Other common sectors included accommodations and food services, as well as health and welfare services.

North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 73.701 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 73.783 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 74.538 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.185 % in 1994 and a record low of 73.701 % in 2017. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

According to a survey conducted among South Koreans in 2024, over half of the respondents believed that the unemployment situation would deteriorate following unification with North Korea. Only about 23 percent were optimistic that the employment situation would improve.

North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15-64 data was reported at 81.598 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 81.785 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 81.909 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.316 % in 1993 and a record low of 81.598 % in 2017. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

North Korea KP: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 47.772 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 47.790 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 48.173 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.364 % in 1990 and a record low of 47.772 % in 2017. North Korea KP: Labour Force: Female: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Labour Force. Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 74.412 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 74.439 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 75.671 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.705 % in 1990 and a record low of 74.412 % in 2017. North Korea KP: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

The statistic shows gross domestic product (GDP) of South Korea from 1987 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. GDP or gross domestic product is the sum of all goods and services produced in a country in a year; it is a strong indicator of economic strength. In 2024, South Korea's GDP was around 1.87 trillion U.S. dollars. See global GDP for a global comparison. South Korea’s economy South Korea is doing quite well economically. It is among the leading export countries worldwide, it mainly exports electronics, automobiles and machinery. South Korea is also one of the leading import countries worldwide. Additionally, it is one of the leading countries with the largest proportion of global domestic product / GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Its GDP has been increasing for the last few years, while the gross domestic product / GDP growth in South Korea has not been steady but increasing since 2009. South Korea is an OECD member and a member of the G20 states. Among the latter, its GDP growth was higher than that of the United States or the European Union in 2013. South Korea is one of the fastest-growing economies worldwide. Its standard of living is also considered to be quite high, the unemployment rate, which is one key factor, has been at around 3 percent, give or take a few percentage points, for the past decade. As a comparison, the United States’ unemployment rate was almost twice, sometimes three times as high as in South Korea during the same period. As for employment, South Korea’s rate is almost the same as that of the United States or France, with more than 60 percent of employed persons in the population.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region shows wide variation in estimated female labor force participation rates (LFPR) among women aged between 15 and 64 years for 2024. North Korea had the highest estimated LFPR in APAC, at about ** percent. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore had some of the highest female LFPR in the region, while South Asian countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and India had some of the lowest shares of women in the labor force. This stark contrast highlights the diverse economic and social landscapes across the region, reflecting varying levels of gender equality and women's empowerment. More opportunities for women? With growing emphasis on gender equality, women across the Asia-Pacific region have gained greater access to education and professional opportunities. Notably, in 2022, many countries across the region had a higher female to male ratio in tertiary education. However, gender inequality in access to opportunities persists, as the proportion of young women not in education, employment, or training (NEET) is significantly higher than the overall youth NEET rate across APAC countries. This disparity is especially pronounced in South Asia, where deep-rooted cultural, social, and economic barriers continue to limit women’s full participation in the workforce. Women in positions of power Despite efforts to advance gender equality, women are still underrepresented in decision-making positions in many governments across the Asia-Pacific region. As such, there was a much lower female representation in ministerial level positions in most APAC countries, compared to that of men. However, New Zealand and Australia stand out for exhibiting a more balanced gender representation in political leadership.

The Asia-Pacific region shows significant variations in labor force participation rates (LFPR) among the population aged 15 to 64 years, with North Korea’s LFPR estimated at ** percent and Afghanistan’s at about ** percent in 2024. This stark contrast highlights the diverse economic and social landscapes across the region, influencing workforce engagement. Regional trends and forecasts APAC’s rapidly aging population is putting growing pressure on the labor market, with projections showing a declining labor force participation rate across the region between 2023 and 2050. East Asia, where demographic changes are most pronounced, is expected to see a significant decline in LFPR among those aged 15 to 54 years, while participation among those over 54 years is projected to rise notably during this period. In contrast, South Asia is the only sub-region anticipated to record a modest increase in participation rates for the 25-54 years age group, highlighting a regional divergence in labor force trends Youth engagement in the labor force The labor force participation rates among youth populations vary greatly across Asia-Pacific countries, reflecting diverse economic conditions, education systems, and social factors. For example, North Korea and Australia boast high youth labor force participation rates of more than ** percent for those aged 15 to 24 years, while South Korea's rate for the same age group is considerably lower at around ** percent. In Australia, strong labor market access for students and abundant part-time work opportunities could enable high youth engagement alongside education. Meanwhile, South Korea's strong societal focus on academic achievement and the pursuit of higher education qualifications often leads to prolonged periods of education, which delays young people's entry into the workforce. Moreover, many APAC countries have high NEET (not in education, employment, or training) rates, particularly those in South Asia, underscoring challenges such as skills mismatches and limited job opportunities.

Abstract (en): The Korean General Social Survey (KGSS) is the South Korean version of the General Social Survey (GSS), closely replicating the original GSS of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Each round of the KGSS typically includes the topical module surveys of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), and/or the East Asian Social Survey (EASS), an international survey network of four GSS-type surveys from countries in East Asia (including China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea). Respondents were asked about their trust and confidence in people and institutions, reunification with North Korea, economic issues, their everyday life and household, family, government performance, and public officials. Additional questions were asked regarding family financial support, household roles, and marriage. Demographic information includes age, sex, education level, household income, employment status, religious preference, political party affiliation, and political philosophy. No weights were used in this study. ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection: Standardized missing values.; Created online analysis version with question text.; Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.. Response Rates: Approximately 60 percent The national population aged 18 years and older residing in households in South Korea. Smallest Geographic Unit: State Multi-stage area probability sampling: Consistent with the requirements of ISSP and other GSS-type surveys, the sample for the KGSS is a national sample drawn by full probability sampling procedures. A more convenient quota sampling at the block level is not employed at all, simply because the quota sampling in terms of age and sex criteria, for instance, is vulnerable to a variety of misuses and abuses that result in serious sampling biases. The target universe of the KGSS is the adult population aged 18 or over who live in households of Korea. From this universe, a total of 2,000 individuals are sampled by the three-stage area probability sampling method. The total number of sample blocks (or clusters) is 200, and some 10 individuals are sampled from each block. Below is a more detailed description of the sampling procedures involved. First, the total sample blocks are distributed to 16 do's or si's at the province level, proportionate to the distribution of households in Korea. Second, in accordance with the PPS principle, a number of dong's and/or myun's (ward level administrative districts in cities and rural counties, respectively) are selected proportional to the number of sample blocks assigned to each province. Third, from each dong and myun selected, one sample block-tong-ban in dong or ri in myun-is randomly selected. Fourth, in each tong-ban or ri selected, about 10 households are randomly selected, make a list of adult members aged 18 or over in each household with their dates of birth on it, and finally select the person who has the birth date occurring the first during the year. For instance, in a household whose members have birthdays in April, February, November, and August, the very person with the birthday in February becomes the respondent. The multistage element in these sequential sampling procedures serves to narrow down the hierarchically stratified geographic areas into the lowest sample blocks, thereby enhancing the sample representativeness, while the cluster component there serves to maximize the efficiency of fieldwork operations. 2013-12-05 The citation was revised per the request of the Principal Investigator. face-to-face interview More information about Korean General Social surveys can be found on the Korean General Social Survey Web site (Korean language) or the Korean General Social Survey Web site (English language).

KP：劳动人口参与率：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：男性：15岁以上男性人口百分比在12-01-2017达86.937%，相较于12-01-2016的86.941%有所下降。KP：劳动人口参与率：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：男性：15岁以上男性人口百分比数据按年更新，12-01-1990至12-01-2017期间平均值为87.896%，共28份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1996，达89.184%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2017，为86.937%。CEIC提供的KP：劳动人口参与率：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：男性：15岁以上男性人口百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的朝鲜 – 表 KP.世界银行：劳动力。

KP：劳动人口参与率：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：女性：15岁以上女性人口百分比在12-01-2017达74.412%，相较于12-01-2016的74.439%有所下降。KP：劳动人口参与率：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：女性：15岁以上女性人口百分比数据按年更新，12-01-1990至12-01-2017期间平均值为75.671%，共28份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1990，达77.705%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2017，为74.412%。CEIC提供的KP：劳动人口参与率：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：女性：15岁以上女性人口百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的朝鲜 – 表 KP.世界银行：劳动力。