Labor force with basic education in South Korea
South Korea: Labor force with basic education was 43.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in South Korea, 2000–2025
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force with basic education in South Korea is 43.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in South Korea peaked at 65.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 43.6%, in 2025.
South Korea ranks 76th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 58.9% | 54.1% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.2% | 47.6% | 53.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.4% | 43.6% | 47.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More work & labour data for South Korea
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 77.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 64.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 30.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 21.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force with basic education in South Korea?
- Labor force with basic education in South Korea was 43.6% in 2025, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 65.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.6% in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for labor force with basic education?
- South Korea ranks 76th out of 123 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).