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Staff Reporter
One out of seven unmarried females said they have no plans to have a baby even after marriage due to childcare expenses and their professional careers, an online recruiter said Monday.
In its recent survey of 428 female professionals of their plans for motherhood after marriage, Job Korea found that as high as 14 percent of those surveyed were unwilling to have a baby.
Around half of them said this is because of the burden of childcare and educational expenses, while one third of them said they just want to enjoy more freedom without the responsibility of raising children.
One tenth said they are afraid a baby may stand in the way of promoting their careers, and 8.3 percent of them said that they would not be able to find suitable babysitters.
"Many young females said that marriage is fine, but having a baby is something to avoid," the company said.
A 35-year-old unmarried language instructor, who wants to be identified only by her family name Choi, is one of those workers.
"I like my job. I am afraid that I would not focus on work due to a baby. I also enjoy traveling, but maybe I cannot hit the road freely if I have a baby. I will get married, but won't have a baby," the Daechi-dong, Seoul resident said.
Analysts said that childcare expenses are the biggest issues for would-be parents.
"The average cost for childcare is estimated to reach 650,000 won per month, according to our recent survey. Average grandparents were paid 700,000 won monthly for taking care of their grandchildren, while childcare centers charged at least 500,000 won for an all-day service," Jung Joo-hee, a manager at Job Korea, said.
Other analysts said that the concept of childcare has changed. "Nowadays childcare does not mean just taking care of kids. It also includes a variety of extra-curricular education.
Parents spend a lot of money educating their children even before they go to schools," said Kim Ju-hu, a professor at early childhood education in Ajou University.
"Private childcare center services cost from 700,000 to 800,000 won a month. In addition, if parents sent their kids to a few private institutes, they would need more than 1 million won monthly for one kid."
미혼 여성 7명 중 1 명, 결혼 후 출산계획 없어
한 온라인 구인업체에 따르면, 미혼여성 7명중 한 명은 결혼 후 아기를 가질 계획이 없는 것으로 나타났다. 이유는 과도한 육아비용을 감당하기 어렵고, 아이가 직장생활에 걸림돌이 될 것 같다고 대답했다.
잡코리아가 최근 국내 미혼 직장여성 428명을 대상으로 한 설문조사에 따르면, 전체 응답자 중 14%에 달하는 여성이 결혼 후 아기를 가지지 않겠다고 말했다. 그들 중 절반 가량은 육아비용과 교육비용이 부담이 된다고 밝혔고, 1/3은 아기 없이 인생을 즐기고 싶다고 대답했다. 10% 가량은 아이가 직장생활에 걸림돌이 될까 봐 두렵다고 말했으며, 8.3%는 아이를 돌봐줄 사람이 없어서 아기 낳기가 힘들 것 같다고 밝혔습니다.
서울 대치동에 사는 35세의 어학강사 최모씨도 그런 여성들 중 한 명이다. 최씨는 “저는 제 일을 좋아합니다. 하지만 아기가 생기면 일에 집중하지 못할까 봐 염려돼요. 저는 여행도 좋아하는데, 아이가 생기면 자유롭게 다닐 수 없을 것 같아서 두려워요. 결혼은 하겠지만 아기를 가질 생각은 없습니다”라고 밝혔다.
전문가들은 과도한 육아비용 역시 여성들이 아기 갖기를 꺼리게 만드는 주요한 원인이라고 지적했다.
잡코리아 정주희 대리는 “저희가 실시한 최근 여론조사에 따르면 평균 육아비용이 월 65만에 이르는 것으로 나타났습니다. 양가 부모님께 아기를 맞길 경우 월 70만원 정도 지급하는 것으로 나타났고, 어린이집에서 하루 종일 아기를 봐주는데 드는 비용 역시 최소 월 50만원 정도인 것으로 조사됐습니다.” 라고 말했습니다.
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