Monthly unemployment rates in Korea
Korea: Monthly unemployment rates was 2.79 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Monthly unemployment rates in Korea, 1989–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for monthly unemployment rates in Korea is 2.79 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment rates in Korea peaked at 6.95 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.06 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1996.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.31 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.06 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.95 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.17 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.42 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.1 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.13 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 1 Spain 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Finland 9.68 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Colombia 8.9 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 4 Greece 8.89 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 5 Sweden 8.87 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 6 Chile 8.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup 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 monthly unemployment rates in Korea?
- Monthly unemployment rates in Korea was 2.79 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.95 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1998.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.06 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1996.
- How does Korea rank for monthly unemployment rates?
- Korea ranks 3rd out of 3 groups with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment rates rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployment rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (i.e., the unemployed plus those in employment). The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.