SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea
South Korea: SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of was 15.17 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea is 15.17, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea peaked at 17.48 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 15.17, in 2025.
That places South Korea 19th out of 73 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 17.08 | — |
| 2015 | 17.48 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 17.26 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 17 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 16.75 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 16.27 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 16.19 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 15.94 | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 15.95 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 15.62 | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 15.53 | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 15.17 | -2.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15.17 is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.74, 1.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15.17 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.71, 1.7× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16.97 | 16.27 | 17.48 | 6 |
| 2020s | 15.73 | 15.17 | 16.19 | 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)
- 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 sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea?
- Sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Korea was 15.17 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.48 in 2015.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.17 in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment (current ILO definition - ICLS19). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. This indicator conveys the share of employment in manufacturing. Employment in manufacturing is defined based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC). Employment refers to all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work) or in self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). This indicator is calculated based on data on employment by sex and economic activity. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.