Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Korea
South Korea: Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) was 522.41 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Korea, 2000–2019
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2019, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea stood at 522.41. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 540.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea peaked at 522.41 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 48.98, in 2008.
That places South Korea 23rd out of 88 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 82.7 | — |
| 2001 | 71.76 | -13.2% |
| 2002 | 54.72 | -23.7% |
| 2003 | 54.11 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 58.31 | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 71.54 | +22.7% |
| 2006 | 68.36 | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 66.92 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 48.98 | -26.8% |
| 2009 | 81.53 | +66.4% |
| 2010 | 115.08 | +41.2% |
| 2011 | 128.87 | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 125.21 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 121.32 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 522.41 | +330.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 522.41 is above the median for high income countries, which is 96.77, 5.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 522.41 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.05, 10.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +330.6% | 121.32 | 522.41 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 65.89 | 48.98 | 82.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 202.58 | 115.08 | 522.41 | 5 |
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 potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea?
- Potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea was 522.41 in 2019, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 522.41 in 2019.
- What is the lowest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.98 in 2008.
- How does South Korea rank for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 88 countries with data for 2019.
- Is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 540.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. The potential labour force refers to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability. This group is used to calculate alternative measures of labour underutilization. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.