09.09.202523:49:17UTC+00South Korea Jobless Rate Edges Up to 2.6% in Aug

In August 2025, South Korea's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up slightly to 2.6%, from 2.5% in July, aligning with June's figure. The number of unemployed individuals rose to 592,000, marking an increase of 28,000 or 4.9% compared to the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, the country experienced a boost in employment, adding 166,000 jobs, which represents a 0.6% increase, bringing total employment to 28.97 million. This data highlights a consistent recovery in the job market since a temporary decline in December when 52,000 positions were lost. Job growth has steadily built momentum, reaching its peak at 245,000 in May before tapering to 183,000 in June and 171,000 in July. Despite this overall improvement, employment in the manufacturing and construction sectors continued to shrink, signaling ongoing challenges in these key industries. Additionally, younger workers saw further declines in labor market participation.