The findings highlight the scarcity of high-quality, well-paid jobs available to advanced degree holders in an increasingly competitive labor market. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, March 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly one in three newly minted Ph.D. holders in South Korea last year remained unemployed, a record-high figure that underscores a tightening job market even for the country’s most highly educated individuals.
According to data from Statistics Korea, only 70.4% of Ph.D. recipients who graduated in 2024 had secured employment or had job offers by early 2025. The remaining 29.6% were either unemployed (26.6%) or classified as not actively seeking work (3.0%).
This marks the highest rate of joblessness among Ph.D. holders since the government began tracking such data in 2014.
The findings highlight the scarcity of high-quality, well-paid jobs available to advanced degree holders in an increasingly competitive labor market.
Experts warn that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence could further exacerbate this trend, as automation increasingly encroaches on traditionally high-paying, high-skill professions.
Rising Unemployment Among South Korea’s Ph.D. Holders Signals Job Market Strain (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
Particularly Grim Outlook for Young and Female Ph.D. Holders
Young Ph.D. holders faced even greater employment challenges. Among those under 30 who obtained their doctorate in 2024, nearly half (47.7%) were unemployed—the highest proportion recorded in the past decade.
The youth labor market has been deteriorating for over a year, with the number of employed individuals under 30 declining for 16 consecutive months as of early 2025.
The data also revealed a gender disparity in job prospects. The unemployment rate among female Ph.D. holders stood at 33.1%, compared to 27.4% for their male counterparts.
Field of study played a significant role in job prospects, with the highest unemployment rates among those with doctorates in the arts and humanities (40.1%), natural sciences and mathematics (37.7%), and social sciences (33.1%).
Meanwhile, fields such as health and welfare (20.9%), education (21.7%), and business and law (23.9%) saw comparatively lower rates of joblessness.
Experts warn that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence could further exacerbate this trend, as automation increasingly encroaches on traditionally high-paying, high-skill professions. (Image created by ChatGPT)
Lower Salaries for Many, Especially Women
Even among those who secured employment, salaries often fell below expectations. Nearly half of employed Ph.D. holders earned between 20 million and 60 million won ($13,670–$41,110) annually.
Only 14.4% reported earning over 100 million won ($68,330), with stark gender disparities: 18.7% of male Ph.D. holders earned salaries above this threshold, compared to just 7.2% of women.
Conversely, low salaries were more prevalent among women, with 17.3% earning less than 20 million won ($13,670), compared to just 6.6% of men. Among fields of study, business and law had the highest proportion (23.5%) of high earners, followed by health and welfare (21.9%) and information technology (20.3%).
By contrast, arts and humanities had the highest percentage (25.5%) of Ph.D. holders earning under 20 million won.
Despite the challenging job landscape, the majority of employed Ph.D. holders (89%) reported that their jobs were highly related to their academic field.
When asked about key factors influencing their job choices, 30.2% cited alignment with their field of study, followed by salary (26.1%) and job security (16.9%).
As South Korea continues to navigate a shifting labor market, policymakers face mounting pressure to address the growing employment crisis among its most educated workforce.
Without substantial reforms or the creation of new high-skilled job opportunities, the nation risks an increasingly underutilized Ph.D. talent pool in the years ahead.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
