Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea
Korea: Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group was 4.49 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea, 1995–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea stood at 4.49 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea peaked at 7.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1995.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1997 | 3.07 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +41.1% |
| 1998 | 7.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +147.8% |
| 1999 | 7.1 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.8% |
| 2000 | 5 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -29.6% |
| 2001 | 4.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 4.46 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 4.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 4.95 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 5.07 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 5.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 4.82 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 5.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +18.2% |
| 2010 | 5.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 5.15 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 4.73 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 5.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 5.61 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 5.42 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 6.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +16.8% |
| 2017 | 6.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 6.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 6.09 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 6.08 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 5.63 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 4.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -18.7% |
| 2023 | 4.36 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 4.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 4.49 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4 |
| 2000s | 4.93 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.46 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.73 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.91 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.08 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 1 Türkiye 10.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 1 Croatia 6.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 1 South Africa 39.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Estonia 7.26 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Greece 12.26 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Latvia 6.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Spain 11.54 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 4 Colombia 11.48 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 5 Lithuania 6.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 5 Finland 10.05 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 6 Chile 9.76 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 6 Slovenia 4.95 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 unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea?
- Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Korea was 4.49 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1995.
- How does Korea rank for unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group?
- Korea ranks 3rd out of 3 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. 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 Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on unemployment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the unemployment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.