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Deterioration in youth employment, social contexts, and marriage decline in Japan and South Korea

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Japan and South Korea are experiencing drastic declines in marriage rates. One of the main factors explaining these declines is deteriorating youth employment. This study examined the effects of youth employment on marriage timing and the moderating effects of social contexts in both countries using longitudinal data and discrete-time logit analysis. The results indicated that unmarried people, particularly men, who were not regular employees with low annual income delayed marriage; this association was moderated by educational background and family structure (parents living together, primogeniture). Comparing the two countries, Japan experiences a stronger influence on marriage from the traditional family system, and South Korea has a stronger influence from economic disadvantages. This reflects differences in the strength of the traditional family system and the degree of deterioration of youth employment in the two countries.

Source: Asian Population Studies

DOI: 10.1080/17441730.2023.2211402

Authors: Shigeki Matsuda, Takayuki Sasaki, Jaeyoul Shin, Jihey Bae

Institutions: Chukyo University, Osaka University of Commerce, Hiroshima University, J. F. Oberlin University

Language: English

Topic: Family Dynamics and Relationships

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: University of Tokyo, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science