A discouraged worker refers to a person who has both the will and the skills to be employed but, due to labor market factors, has not looked for employment in the last four weeks but did so in the previous year. These persons are categorized as economically inactive, which means that an increase in discouraged workers does not necessarily increase the unemployment rate.
In 2024, the number of discouraged workers in South Korea was approximately **, marking an increase compared to the previous year. The number of discouraged workers rose until 2021, after which it began to decline until 2022, before increasing again in 2024.
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Statistics Korea. (May 21, 2024). Number of discouraged workers in South Korea from 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 20, 2026, from /statistics/1228957/south-korea-discouraged-workers/
Statistics Korea. "Number of discouraged workers in South Korea from 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s)." Chart. May 21, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 20, 2026. /statistics/1228957/south-korea-discouraged-workers/
Statistics Korea. (2024). Number of discouraged workers in South Korea from 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 20, 2026. /statistics/1228957/south-korea-discouraged-workers/
Statistics Korea. "Number of Discouraged Workers in South Korea from 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 21 May 2024, /statistics/1228957/south-korea-discouraged-workers/
Statistics Korea, Number of discouraged workers in South Korea from 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1228957/south-korea-discouraged-workers/ (last visited July 20, 2026)
Number of discouraged workers in South Korea from 2014 to 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Statistics Korea, May 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1228957/south-korea-discouraged-workers/
