Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

The purpose of this study is to clarify the real causes of gender wage differentials in Korea by analyzing changes over the period from 1984 to 1999. The participation rate of women in the Korean labor force has gradually increased since 1963, reaching 47.4 percent as of 1999. This increase can be a...

The purpose of this study is to clarify the real causes of gender wage differentials in Korea by analyzing changes over the period from 1984 to 1999. The participation rate of women in the Korean labor force has gradually increased since 1963, reaching 47.4 percent as of 1999. This increase can be attributed to more active participation by women of all ages, except those aged 15-19, as a result of their enrollment in higher level education. In particular, a remarkable rise in labor market participation was achieved by those aged 25-29. On the other hand, the ratio of female workers earnings to that of male workers has increased from 45.1 percent in 1972 to 63.1 percent in 1999. However, when the gender wage differentials are decomposed into various factors, it is found that discrimination components against female workers, compared to the skills or productivity characteristics, played a greater role for the 1994 to 1999 period.