South Korea Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2022 was 2.79%, a 0.85% decline from 2021.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2021 was 3.64%, a 0.29% decline from 2020.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2020 was 3.93%, a 0.18% increase from 2019.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2019 was 3.75%, a 0.07% decline from 2018.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
French Polynesia 13.10%
Spain 13.01%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 12.38%
New Caledonia 12.27%
Greece 12.16%
Bahamas 10.06%
Panama 8.79%
Barbados 8.20%
Italy 8.09%
Uruguay 7.84%
Chile 7.78%
France 7.45%
Sweden 7.36%
Brunei 7.20%
Cyprus 6.98%
Channel Islands 6.92%
Finland 6.80%
Croatia 6.75%
Argentina 6.49%
Latvia 6.43%
Guam 6.13%
Slovak Republic 6.09%
Puerto Rico 5.97%
Estonia 5.85%
Portugal 5.78%
Saudi Arabia 5.64%
Belgium 5.63%
Lithuania 5.57%
Canada 5.21%
Hong Kong 5.06%
Austria 4.71%
Luxembourg 4.70%
Ireland 4.36%
Switzerland 4.20%
Slovenia 4.18%
Denmark 4.17%
Trinidad and Tobago 3.98%
Iceland 3.81%
Australia 3.66%
United States 3.61%
United Kingdom 3.57%
Netherlands 3.54%
Israel 3.48%
Hungary 3.42%
New Zealand 3.25%
Norway 3.17%
Germany 2.99%
Malta 2.81%
South Korea 2.79%
Singapore 2.76%
UAE 2.75%
Japan 2.64%
Macao 2.63%
Poland 2.60%
Kuwait 2.48%
Czech Republic 2.37%
Oman 2.33%
Bahrain 1.40%
Qatar 0.10%
South Korea Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2022 2.79% -0.85%
2021 3.64% -0.29%
2020 3.93% 0.18%
2019 3.75% -0.07%
2018 3.82% 0.17%
2017 3.65% 0.00%
2016 3.65% 0.10%
2015 3.55% 0.47%
2014 3.08% 0.33%
2013 2.75% -0.06%
2012 2.81% -0.18%
2011 2.99% -0.33%
2010 3.32% -0.04%
2009 3.36% 0.40%
2008 2.96% -0.05%
2007 3.01% -0.24%
2006 3.25% -0.23%
2005 3.48% 0.06%
2004 3.42% 0.07%
2003 3.35% 0.30%
2002 3.05% -0.65%
2001 3.70% -0.36%
2000 4.06% -2.28%
1999 6.34% -0.62%
1998 6.96% 4.35%
1997 2.61% 0.56%
1996 2.05% -0.01%
1995 2.06% -0.42%
1994 2.48% -0.40%
1993 2.88% 0.37%
1992 2.51% 0.10%
1991 2.41% 0.10%