Unemployment with intermediate education in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Unemployment with intermediate education was 2.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment with intermediate education in Republic of Korea, 2000–2025
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with intermediate education.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 2.6% for unemployment with intermediate education in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with intermediate education in Republic of Korea peaked at 4.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2023.
That places Republic of Korea 119th out of 130 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Unemployment with intermediate education in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force with intermediate education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.8% | — |
| 2001 | 4.4% | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | -17.0% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -11.3% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -9.8% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +13.8% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +19.7% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +9.1% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -21.8% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -10.9% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | +6.2% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.5% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 116 United Arab Emirates 2.8% compare
- 117 Iceland 2.7% compare
- 118 Russian Federation 2.7% compare
- 120 Seychelles 2.4% compare
- 121 Norway 2.3% compare
- 122 Argentina 2.0% compare
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)
- 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)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment with intermediate education in Republic of Korea?
- Unemployment with intermediate education in Republic of Korea was 2.6% in 2025, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with intermediate education recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment with intermediate education recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2023.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for unemployment with intermediate education?
- Republic of Korea ranks 119th out of 130 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment with intermediate education rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with intermediate education (% of total labor force with intermediate education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).