More Korean women working in the nation’s private sector experience career disruption than those in the public sector, a public think tank reported Sunday.

While only 7.8 percent of those who work in the public sector said they experienced career disruptions, 24.7 percent of those who work in the private sector said they had to quit their jobs during or after pregnancy.

The report, written and released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, surveyed 1,000 working women aged 25-39 who have children up to age 6.

Also, 42.9 percent of contract workers faced a career disruption, compared to only 17.5 percent of full-time employees.

Among all women surveyed, 20.8 percent said they had to quit their jobs due to pregnancy or child care.

Of them, 42.6 percent said they had to quit their jobs because they did not have enough time to work and raise their children at the same time.

While 23 percent said they could not find support or other resources to raise children, 21 percent said they quit because they feared being fired or other disadvantages at work for being pregnant.

Also, 24.3 percent of those who work in the private sector said they could not find work-life balance support programs at work, while 16 percent of those working in the public sector said the same.

As a result, only 47.1 percent of working mothers in the private sector said they would like to have a second child. Among mothers who work in the public sector, 61.4 percent said they are considering having more children in future.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)