South Korea’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 2.8% in April 2026 from March’s five-month low of 2.7%. The economy added 74,000 jobs during the month, marking the smallest increase in 16 months after job gains had exceeded 200,000 for two consecutive months, bringing total employment to 28.961 million. A smaller increase in employment came amid persistent weakness in mining & manufacturing, and construction. Employment also fell in agriculture, forestry & fishing, as well as wholesale & retail trade and accommodation & food services. Meanwhile, gains were recorded in electricity, transport, communication & finance, and business, personal, and public services. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed fell to 853,000 in April, down 2,000 or 0.2% year-on-year. The labor force participation rate rose to 64.9%, from 64.6% in March. source: Statistics Korea
Unemployment Rate in South Korea increased to 2.80 percent in April from 2.70 percent in March of 2026. Unemployment Rate in South Korea averaged 3.53 percent from 1999 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 7.10 percent in June of 1999 and a record low of 2.40 percent in August of 2023. This page provides - South Korea Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Korea Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.
Unemployment Rate in South Korea increased to 2.80 percent in April from 2.70 percent in March of 2026. Unemployment Rate in South Korea is expected to be 2.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 3.10 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.