충북 서비스직 종사 여성의 경력단절 특성과 정책 방향

Characteristics of Career Interruptions of Chungbuk Region Women Workers in Service Sector and Policy Directions

Background/Objectives: Career interruptions of women workers have been roughly interpreted as a result of child care burden which is ironically in return, strengthening typical gender role perspective. Only recently, the factors related to job quality and work environments including measures for work-family balancing are considered as causes of career interruptions. This study, in this context, attempted to find out the series of reasons why women workers really quit their jobs. Methods: Most of related research used quantitative methods using nation-wide data focusing chances of reemployment, which did not show the broader context of quitting jobs. This study, in contrast, interviewed 22 cases of Chungbuk region women workers who had experienced career interruptions at least once. Results: Analysis of cases showed that reasons falling in the category of “work environment and job quality” and “explicit discrimination” quite matters as much as “care burden of children”. Direct impact of Covid-19 did not seem to be big which means career interruptions occur regardless of economic cycles. Conclusion/Implications: Close observations of women’s career interruptions are keenly needed for understanding the whole context of quitting jobs including job characteristics and organizational cultures so that the customized policies can be implemented for most vulnerable women workers.