South Korea - Labor Force





South Korea: Labor Force

Mnemonic LBF.IKOR
Unit Ths. #, SA
Adjustments Seasonally Adjusted
Monthly 0.01 %
Data Feb 2024 29,463
Jan 2024 29,466

Series Information

Source Statistics Korea
Release Summary of Economically Active Population Survey [Monthly]
Frequency Monthly
Start Date 6/30/1999
End Date 2/29/2024

South Korea: Labor

Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Labor Force Feb 2024 29,463 29,466 Ths. #, SA Monthly
Labor Force Employment Feb 2024 28,690 28,576 Ths. #, SA Monthly
Unemployment Feb 2024 773.5 889.4 Ths. #, SA Monthly
Unemployment Rate Feb 2024 2.6 3 %, SA Monthly
Wage & Salaries 2022 1,028,540 982,035 Bil. KRW Annual
Total Employment 2019 22,723,272 22,234,776 # Annual
Agriculture Employment 2017 1,363,560 1,359,356 # Annual
Real Wages & Salaries 2017 766,202 734,010 Bil. KRW Annual

Release Information

For South Korea, labor force status measures, by sex, for subnational areas, from the Summary of Economically Active Population Survey. Monthly from July 1982.

Contents

Survey items

  • Population 15 years old and over, (Ths. #)
  • Economically Active Population, (Ths. #)
  • Employed persons, (Ths. #)
  • Unemployed persons, (Ths. #)
  • Not economically active population, (Ths. #)
  • Participation rate, (%)
  • Unemployment rate, (%)
  • Employment to population ratio, (%)

Variants

  • Seasonally adjusted (SA), not seasonally adjusted (NSA)
  • By sex: Male, female, total

Geographies

  • National
  • Province-level areas

Dates

  • Monthly, national, from 1982
  • Monthly, subnational, from 1998
  • Quarterly, national and subnational, from 1989 [DISCONTINUED]
  • Annual, national, from 1963
  • Annual, subnational, from 2000

Active:

  • Industry classification:
    • Korean Standard Industrial Classification (KSIC) 10
    • Adaptation of UN ISIC Rev. 4
    • Sections A to U
    • Special aggregates
  • Measurements: Thousands of persons (Ths. #)
  • Adjustments: Seasonally adjusted (SA) or not (NSA)
  • Native frequency: Monthly
  • Start date: 2013m1
  • Geo coverage:
    • Country (1)
    • All provinces (17)

Predecessors:

  • KSIC 9, monthly - 2004 to 2017
  • KSIC 8, monthly - 2000 to 2008
  • KSIC 7, monthly - 1992 to 2000
  • Classification 1992, country and 15 provinces, quarterly - 1989 to 1992
  • Classification 1992, country, quarterly - 1963 to 1992

We obtain data from Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), the official data-management webpage of the Statistics Korea.

The source writes:

Survey coverage

Survey Population: Over 15 years old, who is currently living in Korea (Republic of)(South) during 15th of each month, except people working in military service, also prisoners.

Survey Geographical Coverage: Total 27,011 number of Sample survey municipality area. It composes 26,505 number of municipality which accounts10% of total population 2005 survey, plus 506 number of newly established apartments which accounts 10% of new apartment developments.

Survey Sample Selection: Composing 5 number of households as one area bundle, randomly select one area bundle and select 4 neighboring area bundles as a sample selection.

Data collection

Every month with additional survey on March, May and August. Survey on Household.

The data are obtained from a sample survey, the Economically Active Population Survey, which is conducted by the CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal interviewing), CASI(Computer Assisted Self Interviewing), CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) through the regular interviewers of the Statistics Korea (KOSTAT).

Please note there are exceptions on coverage, persons living in collective households, the armed forces and prisoners are excluded.

International standard employment status

The data are compiled according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) definitions, but some definitions do not exactly align.

  1. Employees = Employees
    • Regular employees
    • Temporary employees
    • Daily workers
  2. Employers = Employers
  3. Own-account workers = Own-account worker
  4. Members of producers' cooperatives
  5. Contributing family works = Unpaid family worker
  6. Not classifiable

No. The data are final when first released.

Statistics Korea reports employment figures for an industry aggregate titled "S.O.C. and other services." It comprises all industries excluding "agriculture, forestry and fishing [A]" and "mining and Manufacturing [B; C]."

Data breaks:

  • In July 2012, Sejong City was created in from parts of Chungnam and Chungbuk.
  • In July 1997, Ulsan City (previously part of Gyeongnam) was promoted to Ulsan Metropolitan City.