Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in South Korea
South Korea: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) was 2.96 in 2027. ▬ Flat
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in South Korea, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 2.96 for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.
That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea peaked at 6.96 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.05, in 1996.
That places South Korea 149th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.41 | — |
| 1992 | 2.51 | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 2.88 | +14.5% |
| 1994 | 2.48 | -14.0% |
| 1995 | 2.06 | -16.7% |
| 1996 | 2.05 | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 2.61 | +27.3% |
| 1998 | 6.96 | +167.0% |
| 1999 | 6.34 | -8.9% |
| 2000 | 4.06 | -35.9% |
| 2001 | 3.7 | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 3.05 | -17.7% |
| 2003 | 3.35 | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 3.42 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 3.48 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 3.25 | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 3.01 | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 2.96 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.36 | +13.7% |
| 2010 | 3.32 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 2.99 | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 2.81 | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 3.07 | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 3.08 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 3.55 | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 3.65 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.65 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.82 | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 3.75 | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 3.93 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.64 | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 2.86 | -21.5% |
| 2023 | 2.67 | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 2.78 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 2.68 | -3.6% |
| 2026 | 2.81 | +4.5% |
| 2027 | 2.96 | +5.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.96 is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.2, 57% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.96 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.96, 100% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +167.0% | 2.61 | 6.96 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.37 | 2.05 | 6.96 | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.36 | 2.96 | 4.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.37 | 2.81 | 3.82 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.04 | 2.67 | 3.93 | 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 participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 63.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,824 (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 unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea?
- Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in South Korea was 2.96 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.96 in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.05 in 1996.
- How does South Korea rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- South Korea ranks 149th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 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 unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.