Labour market uncertainty and the economic foundations of marriage in South Korea

Using data from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (1998–2014), this study examines how various indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) (i.e. education, employment status, occupation, and earnings) are associated with the transition to first marriage for South Korean men and women. Results from discrete-time event-history analysis show that all SES indicators are strongly associated with the timing of marriage for men and that there is a clear SES gradient for men's marriage entry. In addition, women with high SES (regular, white-collar jobs, and the highest earnings) are more likely to get married than those with lower SES. We also find that securing a regular job is a significant factor for marriage formation regardless of gender. These results indicate that among those with high SES in South Korea, the economic foundations of marriage appear to be characterised by the cooperation model.