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S. Korea Jobless Rate Hits Highest Level Since 1999
The unemployment rate in South Korea jumped to 5.4 percent in January of 2021 from 4.6 percent in the previous month and compared to 4.0 percent in the same month of the previous year. It was the highest unemployment rate since October of 1999, as the pandemic continued to weigh heavily. The number of unemployed surged by 262 thousand to 1.519 million, while the number of employed went down by 298 thousand to 26.485 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate decreased to 62.3 percent from 62.4 percent, and the employment rate dropped to 58.9 percent from 59.6 percent.
Published on 2021-02-09

South Korea Jobless Rate Jumps to 11-Year High
The unemployment rate in South Korea jumped to 4.6 percent in December 2020 from 4.1 percent in the previous month and compared to 3.7 percent in the same month of the previous year. It was the highest jobless rate since January of 2010, as the number of unemployed surged by 130 thousand to 1.284 million, while the number of employed went down by 248 thousand to 26.759 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate decreased to 62.4 percent from 62.7 percent, and the employment rate dropped to 59.6 percent.
Published on 2021-01-12

South Korea Jobless Rate Inches Down
The unemployment rate in South Korea edged down to 4.1 percent in November 2020 from 4.2 percent in the previous month and compared to 3.6 percent in the same month of the previous year. The number of unemployed declined by 16 thousand to 1.153 million, while the number of employed went up by 167 thousand to 27.008 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate increased to 62.7 percent from 62.4 percent, and the employment rate remained at 60.2 percent.
Published on 2020-12-15

South Korea Unemployment Rate Jumps to 4.2%
The unemployment rate in South Korea jumped to 4.2 percent in October 2020 from 3.9 percent in the previous month and compared to 3.5 percent in the same month of the previous year. The rate was also well above expectations of 3.6 percent. The number of unemployed increased by 81 thousand to 1.170 million, while the number of employed went up by 54 thousand to 26.841 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate increased to 62.4 percent from 62.2 percent, and the employment rate remained at 59.8 percent.
Published on 2020-11-10

South Korea Unemployment Rate Jumps to 3.9%
The unemployment rate in South Korea jumped to 3.9 percent in September 2020 from 3.2 percent in the previous month and compared to 3.4 percent in the same month of the previous year. The number of unemployed increased by 197 thousand to 1.088 million, while the number of employed went down by 136 thousand to 26.787 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate edged up to 62.2 percent from 62.1 percent, and the employment rate dropped to 59.8 percent from 60.1 percent.
Published on 2020-10-15

South Korea Unemployment Rate Drops to 1-Year Low
The unemployment rate in South Korea dropped to 3.2 percent in August 2020 from 4.2 percent in the previous month, falling to the lowest rate in a year. The number of unemployed decreased by 288 thousand to 0.891 million, while the number of employed went up by 114 thousand to 26.922 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate fell to 62.1 percent from 62.5 percent, and the employment rate climbed to 60.1 percent from 59.8 percent.
Published on 2020-09-08

South Korea Unemployment Rate Edges Down
The unemployment rate in South Korea dropped to 4.2 percent in July 2020 from 4.3 percent in the previous month, higher than 4 percent in the same month of the previous year. The number of unemployed decreased by 34 thousand to 1.179 million, while the number of employed went up by 72 thousand to 26.808 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate edged up to 62.5 percent from 62.4 percent, and the employment rate inched up to 59.8 percent from 59.7 percent.
Published on 2020-08-11

South Korea Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.3%
The unemployment rate in South Korea dropped to 4.3 percent in June 2020 from 4.5 percent in the previous month and compared to 4 percent in the same month of the previous year. The number of unemployed decreased by 29 thousand to 1.213 million, while the number of employed went up by 79 thousand to 26.736 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate edged up to 62.4 percent from 62.3 percent, and the employment rate inched up to 59.7 percent from 59.6 percent.
Published on 2020-07-14

South Korea Unemployment Rate Jumps to 10-Year High
The unemployment rate in South Korea jumped to 4.5 percent in May 2020 from 3.8 percent in the previous month and compared to market expectations of 3.7 percent. It was the highest jobless rate since January of 2010, as the number of unemployed surged by 191 thousand to 1.242 million, while the number of employed went up by 153 thousand to 26.657 million. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate increased to 62.3 percent from 61.6 percent, and the employment rate climbed to 59.6 percent from 59.3 percent.
Published on 2020-06-09

South Korea Jobless Rate Steady at 3.8%
The unemployment rate in South Korea remained unchanged at 3.8 percent in April 2020 from the previous month and down from 4.0 percent in the same month of last year, as the coronavirus outbreak is dragging down employment less than expected. The number of unemployed declined by 3 thousand to 1.051 million, while the number of employed went down by 338 thousand to 26.504 million. The labour force participation rate fell to 61.6 percent from 62.4 percent, and the employment rate dropped to 59.3 percent from 60 percent. The Korean government plans to invest more than USD 200 billion of stimulus, or 10% of GDP, to support businesses and thus slack the rate of unemployment.
Published on 2020-05-12

South Korea Unemployment Rate Climbs to 3.8%
The unemployment rate in South Korea jumped to 3.8 percent in March 2020 from 3.3 percent for the previous month, as the coronavirus outbreak and supply chain disruptions across the globe affected export-oriented industries. The number of unemployed increased by 126 thousand to1.054 million, while the number of employed went down by 680 thousand to 26.842 million. The labour force participation rate fell to 62.4 percent from 63.6 percent, and the employment rate dropped to 60 percent.
Published on 2020-04-16

South Korea Unemployment Rate Drops to 6-Month Low
The unemployment rate in South Korea declined to 3.3 percent in February 2020 from 4 percent for the previous month, booking a 6-month low and showing resilience in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. The number of unemployed decreased by 216 thousand to 0.927 million, while the number of employed went up by 19 thousand to 27.522 million. The labour force participation rate fell to 63.6 percent from 64.1 percent, and the employment rate stayed unchanged at 61.6 percent.
Published on 2020-03-10

South Korea Jobless Rate Jumps to 4%
The unemployment rate in South Korea rose to a six-month high of 4 percent in January 2020 from a downwardly revised 3.7 percent for the previous month. The number of unemployed increased by 79 thousand to 1.143 million, while the number of employed went up by 108 thousand to 27.503 million. The labour force participation rate advanced to 64.1 percent from 63.7 percent, and the employment rate climbed to 61.6 percent from 61.3 percent in December.
Published on 2020-02-11

South Korea Jobless Rate Climbs to 5-Month High
The unemployment rate in South Korea climbed to a five-month high of 3.8 percent in December 2019 from 3.6 percent for both the previous month and market expectations. The number of unemployed increased by 42 thousand to 1.068 million, while the number of employed rose by 117 thousand to 27.381 million. The labour force participation rate went up to 63.7 percent from 63.4 percent, and the employment rate climbed to 61.3 percent from 61.1 percent.
Published on 2020-01-14

South Korea Unemployment Rate Inches Up to 3.6%
The unemployment rate in South Korea edged up to 3.6 percent in November 2019, from 3.5 percent in the previous month and matching market expectations. The number of unemployed increased by 49 thousand to 1.026 million, while the number of employed rose by 7 thousand to 27.264 million. The labour force participation rate went up to 63.4 percent from 63.3 percent, and the employment rate remained unchanged at 61.1 percent.
Published on 2019-12-10

South Korea Jobless Rate Climbs to 3-Month High
The unemployment rate in South Korea edged up to 3.5 percent in October 2019, up from 3.4 percent in the previous month and compared to market expectations of 3.8 percent. The number of unemployed increased by 23 thousand to 0.977 million, while the number of employed jumped by 98 thousand to 27.257 million. The labour force participation rate rose to 63.3 percent from 63.1 percent, and the employment rate to 61.1 percent from 60.9 percent.
Published on 2019-11-12

South Korea Unemployment Rate Climbs in September
The unemployment rate in South Korea increased to 3.4 percent in September 2019 rising from almost 6 year low of 3.1 percent in the previous month, but well below 4.0 percent in September 2018 and market expectations of 3.9 percent. The number of unemployed increased by 87 thousand to 0.954 million, while the number of employed declined by 37 thousand to 27.159 million. The labour force participation rate edged up to 63.1 percent from 63.0 percent.
Published on 2019-10-15

South Korea Jobless Rate Lowest since 2013
The unemployment rate in South Korea fell sharply to 3.1 percent in August 2019, compared to 4.0 percent in the previous month and 4.1 percent in August 2018. It was the lowest jobless rate since November of 2013, as the number of unemployed declined by 264 thousand to 0.867 million, while the number of employed jumped by 146 thousand to 27.196 million. The labour force participation rate edged down to 63.0 percent from 63.3 percent.
Published on 2019-09-10

South Korea Jobless Rate Unchanged at 4%
The unemployment rate in South Korea held steady at 4.0 percent in July 2019, slightly below market expectations of 4.1 percent. The number of unemployed increased by 4 thousand to 1.131 million, while the number of employed dropped by 32 thousand to 27.050 million. The labor force participation rate edged down to 63.3 percent from 63.4 percent.
Published on 2019-08-13

South Korea Unemployment Rate Stays at 4%
The unemployment rate in South Korea remained unchanged at 4.0 percent in June2019, compared to market expectations of 3.9 percent. The number of unemployed went down by 7 thousand to 1.127million, whereas the number of employed increased by 45 thousand to 27.082 million. The labor force participation rate fell remained at 63.4 percent.
Published on 2019-07-09