Despite the establishment of a social welfare system for children and childcare, the employment rate of women is not improving. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Countries are expanding social childcare and education systems in attempt to eliminate career breaks for women caused by childbirth and childcare.
Unlike in major developed countries, however, the employment rate of women and kindergarten enrollment of children in South Korea is not directly proportional.
According to an analysis released Thursday by the National Assembly Research Service (NARS) the application rate of infants enrolling in kindergarten was 35.2 percent among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries between 2014 and 2015.
The data obtained was based on infants aged under three.
The employment rate of women with the youngest children under the age of three was 35 percent. The figure is lower compared to that of in other countries.
While other member states show similar figures for other indicators based on the enrollment application of children under three years of age, the employment rate is far lower.
Spain had a similar rate of 38.1 percent for infants under the age of three, compared with a 59.7 percent employment rate.
In the case of Israel, the employment rate of women was 69.9 percent, 34.9 percentage points higher than that of South Korea, despite the fact that the enrollment rate of children was far lower than South Korea at 33 percent.
“South Korea is a country with less correlation between the enrollment rate of infants and maternal employment,” the NARS said.
South Korea’s preschool enrollment rate for infants and young children increased to 56 percent for those under the age of three and 95 percent for those aged three to five in 2017.
The figures are relatively high compared to the OECD average of 36 percent and 87 percent, respectively.
Despite the establishment of a social welfare system for children and childcare, the employment rate of women is not improving due to the perception that childcare is the domain of women and unfavorable working conditions for working mothers.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
