The findings suggest that the fertility rate among women in precarious employment is four times lower than that of their counterparts working at large corporations, underscoring a pressing need for structural changes in the job market to support higher birth rates. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Mar. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – In a revealing study on South Korea’s labor market dynamics and their impact on family planning, researchers have pointed to a stark disparity in birth rates between contract (irregular workers not covered by major insurance) and full-time corporate employees.
The findings suggest that the fertility rate among women in precarious employment is four times lower than that of their counterparts working at large corporations, underscoring a pressing need for structural changes in the job market to support higher birth rates.
During a labor policy forum hosted by the Regional Labor and Society Research Institute in Busan, director Moon Young-man presented these insights. The analysis, covering a 14-year span, showed that the average birth rate among temporary and daily workers was significantly lower compared to women in permanent positions, likely influenced by job insecurity and income disparities.
Further examination of family size variations over 17 years revealed a more pronounced decline in birth rates among contract workers, with a decrease of 0.42 children per household, compared to 0.18 and 0.29 among large and small-to-medium enterprise employees, respectively.
Homeownership and higher education levels were also correlated with higher birth rates, while lower-income households and newlyweds tended to have fewer children.
In the context of South Korea’s demanding education and childcare costs, Moon highlighted the increased likelihood of contract workers foregoing childbirth. To mitigate this trend and boost birth rates in this demographic, he advocated for measures to improve job stability, income levels, and home ownership rates.
Moon also recommended expanding child benefits and mandating paternity leave to alleviate the childcare burden on women. With the national fertility rate at a mere 0.81, half the OECD average of 1.58, and Busan’s rate at 0.66, one of the lowest among major cities in South Korea, the findings underscore a critical demographic challenge facing the nation.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
