Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea
South Korea: Average weekly hours actually worked per employee was 37.72 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea stood at 37.72.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea peaked at 49.66 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 37, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 71st of 101 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 49.66 | — |
| 2001 | 49.53 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 48.85 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 47.9 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 47.8 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 47.25 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 47.01 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 46.08 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 45.16 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 45.84 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 45.41 | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 44.26 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 45.01 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 43.39 | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 44.45 | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 43.3 | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 42.53 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 42.23 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 40.89 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 39.99 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 39.14 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 38.39 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 37.67 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 38.28 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 37 | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 37.72 | +1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 37.72 is above the median for high income countries, which is 37.13, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 37.72 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 44.69, 84% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.51 | 45.16 | 49.66 | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.15 | 39.99 | 45.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.03 | 37 | 39.14 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More work & labour data for South Korea
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 16,840 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 63.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,824 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.96 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.78 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 97,052 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 65,686 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 62.02 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.9719 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.1065 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea?
- Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in South Korea was 37.72 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours actually worked per employee recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49.66 in 2000.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours actually worked per employee recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 37 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for average weekly hours actually worked per employee?
- South Korea ranks 71st out of 101 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours actually worked per employee rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours actually worked per employee. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Data on hours of work are presented, whenever possible, on the basis of the average number of hours of work per week, and with reference to hours worked in the main (paid) job regardless of working time arrangements (e.g. full-time and part-time). Data disaggregated by occupation are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCO. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.