KDI "Women Sending Children to Elementary Care Classrooms Have 7.8%p Higher Probability of Working"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] An analysis revealed that when children use elementary after-school care classrooms, the probability of women's labor force participation increases by 7.8 percentage points compared to those who do not use them.

Han Seongmin, a research fellow at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), stated this on the 17th in a report titled "Improvement Measures for the Elementary After-School Care System in Response to the Increase in Women's Economic Activity." Research fellow Han conducted a survey targeting six districts?three with the highest and three with the lowest financial independence rankings among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul?and built data from the first semester of 2017 to the first semester of 2019 to perform an empirical analysis.

The analysis showed that when children use elementary after-school care classrooms, the probability of women's labor participation was about 7.8 percentage points higher than non-users. Women's average working hours increased by 4.7 hours per week, and the probability of participating in private education decreased by 8.5 percentage points (p). No statistically significant difference was found in the use of after-school programs.

Regarding private education costs, users of elementary after-school care classrooms spent 38,000 KRW less per month than non-users, and users of after-school programs spent 15,000 KRW less per month.

Research fellow Han analyzed that the reason women's economic activity increases more when using elementary after-school care classrooms than after-school programs stems from differences in the operation methods between the two programs. Elementary after-school care classrooms operate until 5 p.m. after school, whereas after-school programs allow students to freely attend classes according to a set timetable based on their choice.

Han said, "Although attending after-school programs is voluntary, only a limited number of participants can join, so even if they apply, they may be rejected, and even if selected, programs that occupy the entire after-school time are often not provided." He added, "Ultimately, from the women's perspective, there is no suitable place to take care of their children during after-school hours, making it difficult to engage in economic activities."

The study also examined the impact on parents of increasing the number of regular elementary school class hours. The relevant hours show a difference, with the OECD average at about 800 hours annually and South Korea at about 655 hours annually. The analysis showed that for first graders, as dismissal time was delayed by one hour, the probability of using elementary after-school care classrooms and after-school programs decreased by 3.2% and 9.7%, respectively. On the other hand, the probability of attending private academies increased by 17%.

When dismissal time was at 4 p.m., the probability of choosing elementary after-school care classrooms within one hour after school decreased by 6.4%, and after-school programs decreased by 19.7%. Conversely, private academy attendance increased by 34.7%.

Research fellow Han proposed, as a method to increase women's labor participation, integrating the functions of elementary after-school care classrooms and after-school programs, expanding the beneficiaries of care services, improving the quality level of care services, and reviewing the expansion of regular class hours linked to current care policies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.