South Korea Unemployment Rate stands at 2.80% as of May 2026, up from 2.70% a year earlier. The reading sits in the 29th percentile of its history back to 1990.
| Latest (May 2026) | 2.80% |
| One year ago | 2.70% |
| 10-year range | 2.50% – 4.60% |
| Percentile vs. full history | 29th |
| History | 1990–2026 (437 observations) |
The share of South Korea's labor force that is out of work and looking for a job. Unemployment is a lagging indicator on the way down but a powerful early signal on the way up: sustained increases from a cycle low have historically been among the most reliable markers of a downturn taking hold. Because labor data is published promptly and revised little, it anchors the growth pillar of most macro frameworks. Data: harmonized unemployment statistics via the OECD.
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<a href="https://www.tacticalassetallocation.com/charts/south-korea-unemployment-rate/">South Korea Unemployment Rate — Cambria Chart Lab</a>
Data: download CSV (source: OECD key economic indicators).