Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea
Korea: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 2.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea is 2.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea peaked at 7.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1995.
That places Korea 151st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.7% | — |
| 1992 | 2.8% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | +19.0% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | -13.7% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | -18.4% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +19.5% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | +177.3% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 4.6% | -35.4% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -18.0% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | -11.6% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -23.6% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.8% | 2.3% | 7.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 3.0% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 149 Myanmar 2.8% compare
- 150 Mali 2.7% compare
- 152 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 2.7% compare
- 153 Macau, China 2.7% compare
- 154 Bhutan 2.6% compare
More education data for Korea
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 233,046 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 76 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 434,627 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 412,067 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.66 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Korea was 2.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.8% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1995.
- How does Korea rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Korea ranks 151st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.