Labor Force Participation Rate in South Korea decreased to 64.60 percent in August from 65 percent in July of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Labor Force Participation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the labor force participation rate in South Korea was about **** percent, up slightly from the previous year. The labor force participation rate has seen an upward trend over the last few years.

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.

South Korea: Labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 64.2 percent, a decline from 64.27 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 60.63 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1990 to 2024 is 61.57 percent. The minimum value, 59.38 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 64.27 percent was recorded in 2023.

In 2024, approximately **** percent of women in South Korea aged 15 years and older participated in the labor force, marking a slight increase from the previous year. The female labor force participation rate in South Korea has steadily risen in recent years. However, it remains significantly below the average of the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
South Korean women in the labor market An increasing number of women in South Korea are entering the labor market. However, they remain significantly underrepresented. For example, the share of female managers is still low, and despite some progress in recent years, women are underrepresented in fields such as law and politics. This inequality is also evident in the pay gap. South Korean women earn, on average, ** percent less than their male counterparts. Gender equality South Korea's gender divide has become increasingly prominent in recent years. While there has been progress in achieving equality for women over the past few decades, disparities between men and women still exist across all areas of society. According to a survey, discrimination against women was perceived to be more widespread than discrimination against men in various settings. Around half of the respondents considered discrimination against women in the workplace to be a serious issue, while only ** percent felt the same about discrimination against men.

South Korea: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 56.02 percent, a decline from 56.04 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1990 to 2024 is 50.63 percent. The minimum value, 47.12 percent, was reached in 1998 while the maximum of 56.04 percent was recorded in 2023.

In 2024, the labor force participation rate of men in South Korea was **** percent, while that for women was **** percent. Although the female labor force participation rate in South Korea has risen steadily over the last few years, it is still far below the average of the member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea was reported at 26.93 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (modeled ILO estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (national estimate) in South Korea was reported at 31.45 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in South Korea was reported at 43.85 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Labor force, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Historical dataset showing South Korea labor force participation rate by year from 1990 to 2024.

South Korea: Male labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 72.46 percent, a decline from 72.58 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 69.88 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1990 to 2024 is 72.42 percent. The minimum value, 70.71 percent, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 74.25 percent was recorded in 1995.

Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 62.630 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 62.642 % for 2016. Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 61.342 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.642 % in 2016 and a record low of 60.013 % in 1990. Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: 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.

Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Ratio of Female to Male data was reported at 71.197 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 70.535 % for 2016. Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Ratio of Female to Male data is updated yearly, averaging 63.478 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.197 % in 2017 and a record low of 38.199 % in 1960. Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Ratio of Female to Male 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: 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. Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate is calculated by dividing female labor force participation rate by male labor force participation rate and multiplying by 100.; ; Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; 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, Jeju had the highest labor force participation rate among the 17 major cities and provinces in South Korea, with a rate of around 71 percent. The national average labor force participation rate in South Korea that year stood at approximately 64.5 percent. Jeju was the only administrative area with a participation rate above 70 percent, while Busan was the only area with a rate below 60 percent.

Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 26.210 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26.330 % for 2016. Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 28.205 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.880 % in 1975 and a record low of 20.160 % in 2010. Korea Labour Force Participation Rate: National 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 Korea – Table KR.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 November 2017.; 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 2023, the labor force participation rate in Seoul, South Korea stood at 62.8 percent, a slight increase compared to the previous year. Overall, the labor force participation rate maintained similar levels during the surveyed period.

Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education) in South Korea was reported at 74.07 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Labor force with advanced education (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Persons Outside the Labor Force Male: From 15 to 64 Years for Korea (LFIN64MAKRM647S) from Jun 1999 to Jul 2025 about 15 to 64 years, Korea, males, labor force, and labor.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea was reported at 22.75 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (modeled ILO estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.