Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea
South Korea: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 25.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Korea recorded 25.8% for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea peaked at 36.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2009.
South Korea ranks 162nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34.3% | — |
| 1991 | 36.6% | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 36.8% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 36.2% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 36.6% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 36.3% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 35.3% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 34.2% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 31.7% | -7.3% |
| 1999 | 31.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 30.5% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 31.4% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 32.1% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 32.0% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 32.5% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 30.6% | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 28.0% | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 25.8% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 23.5% | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 22.6% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 22.7% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 23.3% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 24.1% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 24.6% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 26.3% | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 27.8% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 28.0% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 27.7% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 26.9% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 27.3% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 26.0% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 27.2% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 28.6% | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 26.9% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 25.8% | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 25.8% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.0% | 31.7% | 36.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.9% | 22.6% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.9% | 22.7% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.7% | 25.8% | 28.6% | 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)
- 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)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea was 25.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 36.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- South Korea ranks 162nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.