Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Korea
Korea: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 39.42 Hours per week per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Korea, 1991–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.
Analysis
Korea recorded 39.42 Hours per week per person for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in 2025.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Korea peaked at 53.91 Hours per week per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 38.77 Hours per week per person, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Korea, year by year
| Year | Hours per week per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 53.91 Hours per week per person | — |
| 1992 | 53.09 Hours per week per person | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 53.25 Hours per week per person | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 52.94 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 53.03 Hours per week per person | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 52.82 Hours per week per person | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 52 Hours per week per person | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 50.9 Hours per week per person | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 51.24 Hours per week per person | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 51.29 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 51.18 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 50.59 Hours per week per person | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 49.96 Hours per week per person | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 49.58 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 48.99 Hours per week per person | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 48.77 Hours per week per person | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 47.96 Hours per week per person | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 46.9 Hours per week per person | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 46.9 Hours per week per person | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 46.14 Hours per week per person | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 44.91 Hours per week per person | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 45.63 Hours per week per person | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 44.07 Hours per week per person | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 44.88 Hours per week per person | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 44.69 Hours per week per person | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 44 Hours per week per person | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 43.77 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 42.51 Hours per week per person | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 41.72 Hours per week per person | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 40.62 Hours per week per person | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 40.04 Hours per week per person | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 39.39 Hours per week per person | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 39.96 Hours per week per person | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 38.77 Hours per week per person | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 39.42 Hours per week per person | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.58 Hours per week per person | 50.9 Hours per week per person | 53.91 Hours per week per person | 9 |
| 2000s | 49.21 Hours per week per person | 46.9 Hours per week per person | 51.29 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.23 Hours per week per person | 41.72 Hours per week per person | 46.14 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.7 Hours per week per person | 38.77 Hours per week per person | 40.62 Hours per week per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 1 Croatia 39.49 Hours per week per person compare
- 1 Colombia 43.6 Hours per week per person compare
- 1 Türkiye 43.89 Hours per week per person compare
- 2 Poland 39.92 Hours per week per person compare
- 2 Costa Rica 43.23 Hours per week per person compare
- 3 Slovenia 39.2 Hours per week per person compare
- 3 Mexico 42.6 Hours per week per person compare
- 4 South Africa 42.3 Hours per week per person compare
- 4 Lithuania 39.04 Hours per week per person compare
- 5 Latvia 38.56 Hours per week per person compare
- 5 Greece 40.96 Hours per week per person compare
More work & labour data for Korea
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 1,235 Persons (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 2,220 Persons (2022)
- Patents - international collaboration in technology development 41,123 Co-inventions (2023)
- Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels 28,769 Persons (2025)
- Unemployed population — Unemployment 830.02 Persons (2025)
- Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked 1,833 Hours per year per person (2025)
- Number of employees by activities (ISIC Rev. 4) — Employment 22,318 Persons (2025)
- Employment by professional status 28,769 Persons (2025)
- Incidence of unemployment by duration 58.51 Percentage of population in the same subgroup (2025)
- Annual population and employment, national concept — Total employment 28,576 Persons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Korea?
- Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Korea was 39.42 Hours per week per person in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 53.91 Hours per week per person in 1991.
- What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.77 Hours per week per person in 2024.
- How does Korea rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
- Korea ranks 2nd out of 4 groups with data for 2025.
- Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on average usual weekly hours worked in the main job broken down by total employment, full-time employment and part-time employment. Actual hours of work, instead of usual hours of work, are only available in some countries (Mexico and Korea). Data are further broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and standardised age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+ and total) . Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at: OECD Ratification Dates.