After the Enforcement of the 'Career-Interrupted Women Act,' the Number of Career-Interrupted Women Decreases and Employment Increases 2.6 Times

Number of New Employment Center Workers Increases from 68,000 to 180,000
'Act on Promotion of Women's Economic Activities' Amendment Enforced from June
Support Also Provided to Prevent Career Interruptions for Working Women

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol reiterated his pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stating, "Isn't it time for the ministry to fulfill its historical mission?" Meanwhile, on the 14th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family at the Government Seoul Office, facing a crossroads regarding its existence, is stirring unrest amid a restless atmosphere. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Since the enactment of the Act on the Promotion of Economic Activities for Women with Career Interruptions in 2009, the number of users at Saeil Centers has increased 4.9 times, and the number of employed individuals has increased 2.6 times. Starting next month, the policy target will be expanded to support the prevention of career interruptions for women currently employed.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that the revised "Act on the Promotion of Women's Economic Activities and Prevention of Career Interruptions," amended 13 years after the enactment of the Career Interruption Women Act, will be enforced from June 8.

The Women's Economic Activity Act includes provisions not only for the reemployment of women with career interruptions but also to enable women currently employed to work without career interruptions. It strengthens counseling and advisory services related to career development, grievances, and labor issues, and expands services to prevent career interruptions such as workplace adaptation and return support.

From this year, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will pilot customized services tailored to the needs of employed women who are at high risk of career interruption or experiencing crisis factors. This includes case management by individual and crisis factors, career planning support, professional coaching, counseling (mentoring) support, and improvements in corporate workplace culture.

Since the enactment of the Career Interruption Women Act and the establishment of Saeil Centers in 2009, the number of employed individuals and users has significantly increased. The number of users rose from 130,000 to 640,000 as of 2021, and the number of employed individuals increased from about 68,000 to 180,000. The proportion of regular employees increased from 57.7% in 2012 to 69.8% as of last year.

The Women's Saeil Centers (hereafter Saeil Centers) provide customized employment support services, including employment counseling, vocational training, internships, job placement, and follow-up management, addressing the difficulties women with career interruptions face in actively seeking jobs due to work-family balance issues. Currently, 158 centers operate nationwide.

The proportion of women with career interruptions and the wage gap have also eased. The number of women with career interruptions decreased from 2.16 million in 2014 to 1.44 million in 2021. The wage gap between those with and without career interruptions shrank from 660,000 KRW in 2013 to 356,000 KRW in 2019.

Each year, about 14,000 women with career interruptions participate in Saeil Center programs, achieving an employment rate of 73.8%. This reflects the proactive incorporation of regional industry characteristics and labor demand to resolve job mismatches. To cultivate highly skilled professionals in specialized fields, high value-added vocational training in IT, content, big data, and bio sectors was introduced, recording an employment rate of 79.7% as of 2020.

Jung Young-ae, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated, "Although the 'M-shaped' curve representing career interruptions among women during childcare periods is easing, the gap in economic activity participation rates between women and men remains large compared to major OECD countries, making national-level responses crucial. With the enforcement of the Women's Economic Activity Act, it is necessary to further strengthen support so that women can continue their careers without leaving the labor market."