Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea
South Korea: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 24.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea is 24.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% on the previous year and down 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea peaked at 51.1% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 2009.
South Korea ranks 160th of 175 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 38.4% | — |
| 1966 | 41.4% | +7.9% |
| 1970 | 45.0% | +8.5% |
| 1975 | 51.1% | +13.5% |
| 1980 | 40.6% | -20.5% |
| 1990 | 28.2% | -30.6% |
| 2000 | 31.1% | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 32.1% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 32.8% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 32.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 33.1% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 28.7% | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 26.3% | -8.4% |
| 2008 | 24.1% | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 23.1% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 23.8% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 24.5% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 25.0% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 28.2% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 28.3% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 27.3% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 27.6% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 26.3% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 27.6% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 28.9% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 27.2% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 26.2% | -4.0% |
| 2025 | 24.7% | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.9% | 38.4% | 41.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 48.0% | 45.0% | 51.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 40.6% | 40.6% | 40.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.2% | 28.2% | 28.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 29.5% | 23.1% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.3% | 23.2% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.8% | 24.7% | 28.9% | 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 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (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 24.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 51.1% in 1975.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- South Korea ranks 160th out of 175 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 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national 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.