ID :
80833
Sun, 09/20/2009 - 23:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/80833
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S. Korean women's role in economy lower than OECD countries: report
SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean women's participation in economic
activities remained relatively low among the world's leading countries, a report
showed Sunday, indicating a need for more efforts to capitalize on the female
workforce for growth.
According to the report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, the ratio of economic participation by women here stood at 54.7
percent, marking the third-lowest among the 30 member countries of the
Paris-based organization.
The ratio is also lower than the OECD average of 61.3 percent. Turkey and Mexico
are the only countries where women's economic participation ranked lower than in
South Korea, with 26.7 percent and 43.4 percent, respectively.
The number of part-time female employees who work less than 30 hours a week also
remained relatively small compared to other OECD countries.
Of the nation's total part-time workers, women accounted for 59 percent, the
lowest among OECD member countries.
"Economic participation by South Korean women seems to remain relatively low due
to their role in taking care of children and housework. There are also fewer
part-time jobs available," a finance ministry official said.
Women on average also earn less than men in South Korea, the report showed.
The median income of female workers was 38 percent less than that of their male
counterparts, the largest gap among the 21 countries surveyed in the report. The
average wage difference among the nations stood at 18 percent.
South Korea's jobless rate, meanwhile, remained among the lowest, the report
showed. The country's unemployment rate was 3.2 percent last year, the
fourth-lowest among the 30 OECD member nations.
The income gap between rich and poor, however, has been increasing over the past
years.
Those in the highest income bracket earned 4.74 times more than those in the
nation's lowest income bracket at the end of 2007. The ratio is the
second-highest among OECD countries following the United States, where the
corresponding figure was 4.85.
The ratio also compared with 3.72 recorded by South Korea in 1997, indicating
that the income gap here has been on a steady rise over the past decade.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)
activities remained relatively low among the world's leading countries, a report
showed Sunday, indicating a need for more efforts to capitalize on the female
workforce for growth.
According to the report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, the ratio of economic participation by women here stood at 54.7
percent, marking the third-lowest among the 30 member countries of the
Paris-based organization.
The ratio is also lower than the OECD average of 61.3 percent. Turkey and Mexico
are the only countries where women's economic participation ranked lower than in
South Korea, with 26.7 percent and 43.4 percent, respectively.
The number of part-time female employees who work less than 30 hours a week also
remained relatively small compared to other OECD countries.
Of the nation's total part-time workers, women accounted for 59 percent, the
lowest among OECD member countries.
"Economic participation by South Korean women seems to remain relatively low due
to their role in taking care of children and housework. There are also fewer
part-time jobs available," a finance ministry official said.
Women on average also earn less than men in South Korea, the report showed.
The median income of female workers was 38 percent less than that of their male
counterparts, the largest gap among the 21 countries surveyed in the report. The
average wage difference among the nations stood at 18 percent.
South Korea's jobless rate, meanwhile, remained among the lowest, the report
showed. The country's unemployment rate was 3.2 percent last year, the
fourth-lowest among the 30 OECD member nations.
The income gap between rich and poor, however, has been increasing over the past
years.
Those in the highest income bracket earned 4.74 times more than those in the
nation's lowest income bracket at the end of 2007. The ratio is the
second-highest among OECD countries following the United States, where the
corresponding figure was 4.85.
The ratio also compared with 3.72 recorded by South Korea in 1997, indicating
that the income gap here has been on a steady rise over the past decade.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)
