Korea, Rep.: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
In , Korea, Rep.'s Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 2.68.
That's down 3.6% from 2024, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Korea, Rep. ranks #154 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #18 of 29.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2025
Trend (2006–2025)
- 2008 · Global financial crisis
- 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic
Highlights
- Peak
- 3.93
- Trough
- 2.68
- 1-year change
- -3.6%
- 5-year change
- -31.7%
- -7.4% / yr
- 10-year change
- -24.3%
- -2.8% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) |
|---|---|
| 2.6830 | |
| 2.7840 | |
| 2.6750 | |
| 2.8570 | |
| 3.6390 | |
| 3.9310 | |
| 3.7460 | |
| 3.8240 | |
| 3.6530 | |
| 3.6500 |
About Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Indicator code: SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS • Category: Labor & Business
Frequently asked questions
- What was Korea, Rep.'s Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
- In 2025, Korea, Rep.'s Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 2.68, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is Korea, Rep.'s Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
- Korea, Rep.'s Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) fell 3.6% from 2024 to 2025.
- How does Korea, Rep. rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
- In 2025, Korea, Rep. ranked #154 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
- How does Korea, Rep.'s Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025 was 6.73, so Korea, Rep. is below the world average. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #18 of 29.
- What is Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) and how is it measured?
- Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.