Changes in Labor Force Participation of Married Women in Korea: 1980-2005

This paper investigated labor force participation pattern changes of married women from 1980 to 2005. Using the micro samples of Population and Housing Census provided by the Korean National Statistical Office, the following results were obtained. The labor force participation rate of married women has substantially increased from 1980 to 2005, with some significant changes in labor supply pattern worthy of note. The most important finding concerns the highly educated women's and younger cohorts' labor supply patterns. Labor force participation rate rapidly increased among college educated married women and wives of college educated men. This is different from the stylized fact associated with married women's labor in Korea, that is, “More educated, less work.” This change is more obvious among recent cohorts born from 1971-1975 and from 1976-1980. In contrast to the spouses who trigger less of an influence on married women's labor, the presence of children still proved to be a critical component.