Job Satisfaction of Industrial Women Specializing in STEM in The Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Region

  • Received : 2009.12.04
  • Accepted : 2010.05.10
  • Published : 2010.05.31

Abstract

A survey was conducted on 300 working women(one woman/company) who specialize in STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the Busan region(south of Korea) to determine their job satisfaction. The overall response of women working in industry is relatively positive although they do experience a certain limit as female workers. The serious difficulties are long work hours and restriction of behavior in consequence of being the minority. Respondents anticipate an increase in number of working women in the STEM field due to the enforcement of women resource policies in Korea. Survey results about career development show that some of the most important factors in professionalism are responsibility, gumption and cooperation. The expectation of promotion is very low. Sexual discrimination is distinctly appearing in wages and promotions. If they decide to quit their job in the midstream, the key reason is in the difficulties of compatibility between home and occupation. Survey results about job satisfaction to work in industry reveal that 31.0% of respondents are satisfied because their job is consistent with their specialty; 30.7% of respondents are working where they wanted. Among respondents who intend to change their job, only 20.7% of respondents wanted to keep their specialties. Two factors involved in the respondents' satisfaction during work are special technical achievement and practical application of their knowledge. But, they are unsatisfied in terms of implementing their leadership.

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