South Korea: Unemployment rate
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
The most recent value is 2.8 percent as of July 2026, an increase compared to the previous value of 2.7 percent. Historically, the average for South Korea from January 1990 to July 2026 is 3.42 percent. The minimum of 1.9 percent was recorded in December 1995, while the maximum of 8.2 percent was reached in July 1998.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
- Measure: percent
- Definition: The unemployment rate represents the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
- Source: OECD
| Recent values | South Korea: Unemployment rate, percent |
|---|---|
| 2026 Jul | 2.8 |
| 2026 Jun | 2.7 |
| 2026 May | 2.8 |
| 2026 Apr | 2.8 |
| 2026 Mar | 2.7 |
| 2026 Feb | 2.9 |
| 2026 Jan | 3 |
| 2025 Dec | 3.3 |
Download data from our database Other resources: All indicators for South Korea All indicators on the website Article: Are trade deficits bad for the economy? Article: Sources of economic growth Article: Currency values and investment returns All articles
| Related indicators | Latest | Reference | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor force | 29.85 | 2025 | million people |
| Unemployment rate | 2.68 | 2025 | percent |
| Female unemployment | 2.69 | 2025 | percent |
| Male unemployment | 2.68 | 2025 | percent |
| Youth unemployment | 6.70 | 2025 | percent |
| Labor force participation | 64.35 | 2025 | percent |
| Labor force: percent female | 44.36 | 2025 | percent |
| Female labor force participation | 56.78 | 2025 | percent |
| Male labor force participation | 72.00 | 2025 | percent |
| Hours worked | 1,895.79 | 2023 | hours |
| Self-employment | 22.67 | 2025 | percent |
| Employment | 29.08 | Q2/2026 | million employed people |
| Unemployment rate | 2.80 | 7/2026 | percent |
| Labor cost | 115.92 | Q4/2025 | index points |