Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 2.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea, 1969–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea is 2.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea peaked at 6.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1996.
That places Republic of Korea 152nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 4.8% | — |
| 1975 | 4.2% | -12.9% |
| 1976 | 3.8% | -8.9% |
| 1977 | 3.8% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.2% | -16.8% |
| 1979 | 3.8% | +20.4% |
| 1980 | 5.2% | +35.9% |
| 1981 | 4.5% | -13.2% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 4.1% | -6.7% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | -22.8% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | -18.2% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 2.4% | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | +16.0% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | -13.4% |
| 1995 | 2.0% | -16.2% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | +28.5% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | +164.4% |
| 1999 | 6.5% | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -37.2% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -17.7% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | +13.7% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -21.5% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 2.5% | 5.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.0% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More work & labour data for Republic of 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, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Republic of Korea was 2.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.8% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1996.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Republic of Korea ranks 152nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.