Myanmar
-16%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020)
Graduate jobs and salaries in South Korea
Updated Data years: 2024, 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In South Korea, adults with tertiary education earn 130 for every 100 earned by adults who finished upper secondary school (OECD, 2024). Their unemployment rate was 2.6%, against 2.7% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO) · OECD
- 2.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 2.7%, 2025)
- 5.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
- 130tertiary earnings index, upper secondary = 100 (OECD, 2024)
Do graduates earn more in South Korea?
Earnings compared with upper secondary education (OECD)
The OECD compares the earnings of adults aged 25–64 with each level of education to those who finished upper secondary school (= 100). Latest year: 2024.
| Education level | Index (upper secondary = 100) |
|---|---|
| Short-cycle tertiary | 110 |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | 132 |
| Master's, doctoral or equivalent | 173 |
| All tertiary | 130 |
| Below upper secondary | 83 |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Full-time, full-year earners.
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in South Korea?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 4.2% | — |
| Basic education | 3.4% | — |
| Intermediate education | 2.6% | 6.1% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 2.6% | 5.6% |
| All levels | 2.7% | 5.7% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 27 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in South Korea
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 51.7M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $63,125 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 111.9% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in South Korea
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in South Korea?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in South Korea was 2.6%, compared with 2.7% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 5.6%.
Where can I find official information about studying in South Korea?
Start with the official study portal and immigration pages linked on this page. They set out entry requirements, student visas and any rights to work after graduating, which change more often than most guides are updated.
Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific
Compare South Korea side by side
-
-
Thailand
+74%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Malaysia
2.2%
unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2022) -
Australia
+28%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021) -
Vietnam
+25%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Philippines
+54%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Economically Active Population Survey, 2025
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Relative earnings and employment by field of study
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). South Korea: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/south-korea/ (accessed September 26, 2026)