Low female employment rates in South Korea are linked to the gender-specific burden of childrearing

Female employment rates in South Korea are far below those of other countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Despite multiple government policies committed to encouraging continuous employment, only 53% of women in their 30s participated in the labor force in South Korea compared to 72% of women in the U.S. in 2022. Therefore, examining the underlying reasons for lower female employment in Korea is critical. We assessed job satisfaction, job retention, and the underlying factors that impact these variables for both genders and various ages through a survey. Among 291 adult participants (161 women, 130 men) aged 20 to 59, working in various fields, 95% of responders were college graduates. Females tended to be less satisfied with their salaries and benefits than males. Notably, 84% of female responders had considered leaving their companies or transferring to others, while 59% of male responders had considered leaving their companies or transferring to others. Female responders noted childrearing as the most significant (p<0.001) reason they considered leaving their jobs, while male responders noted job dissatisfaction. Interestingly, female participants noted childrearing as a significant reason for leaving their jobs despite the implementation of childcare benefits in 51% and flexible work hour options in 90% of participants’ companies. These results suggest that even highly educated women feel more pressure from an innate sense of responsibility and societal perception to care for children than men.