Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in South Korea
South Korea: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 63.91 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in South Korea, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea is 63.91, measured in 2027.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea peaked at 64.47 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 59.38, in 1990.
South Korea ranks 75th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.38 | — |
| 1991 | 60.11 | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 60.39 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 60.41 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 61.13 | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 61.46 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 61.67 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 62.02 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 60.21 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 60.18 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 60.75 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 61.11 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 61.62 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 61.11 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 61.82 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 61.56 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 61.46 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 61.32 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 60.81 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 60.22 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 60.33 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 60.64 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 60.93 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 61.4 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 62.28 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 62.58 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 62.63 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 62.91 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 62.76 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 62.99 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 62.27 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 62.55 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 63.79 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 64.27 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 64.47 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 64.35 | -0.2% |
| 2026 | 64.16 | -0.3% |
| 2027 | 63.91 | -0.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 63.91 is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 63.91 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.77, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.7 | 59.38 | 62.02 | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.18 | 60.22 | 61.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.94 | 60.33 | 62.99 | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.72 | 62.27 | 64.47 | 8 |
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 (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)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea was 63.91 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 64.47 in 2024.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.38 in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- South Korea ranks 75th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.