Women's Employment and Childbirth: Recent trends and insight from previous researches

Abstract

(1) In the early 2000s, South Korea entered a state of ultra-low fertility, with a total fertility rate dropping below 1.3. Researchers argue that since 2015, there has been a change in the demographic factors contributing to the decline in the birth rate. Prior to 2015, the delay in the timing of childbirth had a greater impact on the decline in the total fertility rate than changes in the level of fertility. Even before the 2000s, the fertility rate for higher-order births (third child and above) had already declined to a very low level, leaving little room for further decline. This means that the trend of delayed marriage (delayed first childbirth) accelerated. Additionally, there was no significant change observed in the rate at which people who were already married had their first childbirth. However, since 2015, there has been a decline in the progression rate to first childbirth and a decrease in the transition to second childbearing, indicating a decline in the fertility rate among married women. Unlike the previous decline in the birth rate, the decline since 2015 demonstrates a significant weakening of the universality of childbirth within marriage, indicating that childbirth within and outside of marriage has both transitioned into the realm of choice.

(2) Since the 2000s, the employment rate for women has generally increased, while the employment rate for men has declined, narrowing the gender employment gap (ages 15-64) to some extent. However, as of 2021, it remains very high at 18.8 percentage points. According to data from 2000 to the late 2010s, the first childbirth on average reduces women's employment probability by about 45%. Although employment rates have increased significantly before and until marriage or the first childbirth, labor force withdrawal following family formation remains widespread. However, the magnitude of the negative impact of the first childbirth on employment has decreased. The current focus is shifting from identifying the labor supply characteristics of women as a whole to understanding the impact of women's individual characteristics, labor market position, household characteristics, and other factors on labor supply. Despite fluctuations since 2000, the gender wage gap remains at a level exceeding 30%. Further research is needed to deepen the understanding of the relationship between employment structure and female labor supply.

(3) Since the 2000s, there have been policy changes that directly impact the relationship between women's employment and childbirth. Considering the clear pattern of increasing employment rates for married women since the late 1980s, it can be said that the introduction of these policies was generally delayed. The level of coverage and support remains relatively low. However, there has been a trend of expanding the government's work-life balance support policies in recent years, and qualitative improvements are expected in the future. Additionally, since the 2000s, policies such as free childcare, paid parental leave, shortened working hours during childcare, and flexible work arrangements have emerged as important factors in women's labor supply and childbirth.