Study Shows Korean Single Women Earn More Than Married Women

A Korean Central Employment Information Office (CEIO) study has shown that single women in Korea earn more than married women. In fact, the study suggests that women with good jobs are reluctant to get married.

The survey shows unmarried women earned an average $1,530 per month. Married women average roughly $1,200 per month. In contrast, single men earned $1700 per month, while married men earn $2220 on average.

According to an article in Chosun Ilbo, the higher a woman's education level the more likely she is to be unmarried.

In the CEIO study of single women: 3.6 percent were high school graduates, 9.8 percent were college graduates, 15.4 had a master degree and 32.1 percent had a doctorate.

Perhaps, impacting the relationship of education and martial status is that many of those with higher degrees often have studied in the United States. I see this exposure to American culture and values as having a powerful influence on the desire to marry or work.

By employment type, 53.5 percent of single women were regular employees, compared with only 31.5 percent of married women. In addition, many single women were found to working offices or as designers, academics, in finance firms or as system operators.

The study suggests that the majority of single female employees work in professional fields and chose to remain single because they are reluctant to take on the extra burden of married life and childcare.