Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea
South Korea: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 5.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea is 5.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea peaked at 10.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 138th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 6.6% | — |
| 2000 | 8.7% | +30.5% |
| 2001 | 8.4% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | -14.4% |
| 2003 | 8.7% | +21.6% |
| 2004 | 9.3% | +6.3% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -7.2% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -21.3% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 8.3% | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +20.6% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | +23.3% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 9.6% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | -23.6% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | -12.6% |
| 2024 | 6.5% | +20.3% |
| 2025 | 5.7% | -12.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 5.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.6%, 42% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 5.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.4%, 61% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 6.5% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.9% | 7.3% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 5.4% | 9.7% | 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 unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Korea was 5.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.1% in 2016.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- South Korea ranks 138th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.