Career interruptions plague nearly 70% of married women in South Korea

Nearly seven in 10 married women in South Korea have faced career interruptions due to pregnancy and child-rearing, according to the latest data from Statistics Korea.

In the first half of 2024, 1.22 million married women aged 15 to 54 exited the workforce, marking a decline of 133,000 from the previous year. This decrease, however, reflects a broader demographic trend: the total population of married women in this age group fell by approximately 290,000, with the number now standing at 7.65 million.

41.1% of respondents cited child-rearing as the leading reason for women leaving their jobs. Another 24.9% stopped working upon marriage, while 24.4% attributed their decision to pregnancy and childbirth. The statistics also reveal the prolonged nature of these career interruptions, with 41.2% of affected women remaining out of the workforce for over a decade and 22.8% experiencing interruptions of five to 10 years.

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This data comes against South Korea’s ongoing struggle with a declining birth rate. In 2023, the country recorded a total fertility rate of just 0.72 – the lowest since records began in 1970. Experts attributed the trend to shifting societal priorities, as more young people opt to delay or forgo marriage and parenthood due to economic pressures and work-life balance challenges.

While the South Korean government has introduced enhanced childcare benefits and support programmes to encourage marriage and boost fertility, these measures have yet to produce meaningful results. Policymakers continue to grapple with finding solutions to reverse the demographic decline, which poses significant long-term challenges for the country’s economy and workforce sustainability, reported The Korea Times.