As the number of dual-income families increases, household and caregiving responsibilities continue to fall disproportionately on women. According to the National Data Agency's time use survey, in 2024, married women with children in dual-income households spent an average of 4 hours per day on household and caregiving tasks, which is 1 hour and 43 minutes more than their male counterparts, who averaged 2 hours and 17 minutes. Although men's participation has increased over the past decade, the gender gap remains significant.
The National Data Agency released its findings on October 19, detailing changes in time use based on marital status and the presence of children over the past decade. The survey focused on individuals aged 25 to 39 using data from 2014 and 2024.
In 2024, the average essential time for young people was 11 hours and 25 minutes, an increase of 16 minutes from ten years prior. Essential time includes sleep, meals, personal hygiene, and grooming. The mandatory time, which encompasses work, study, household labor, caregiving, and commuting, was recorded at 8 hours and 22 minutes, a decrease of 37 minutes from a decade ago. Conversely, leisure time increased to 4 hours and 13 minutes, up by 21 minutes.
Breaking down the essential time, the increase was influenced by longer sleep and personal hygiene periods. In 2024, young people averaged 8 hours and 10 minutes of sleep, an increase of 10 minutes, while personal hygiene and grooming time rose to 1 hour and 28 minutes, up by 14 minutes. Meal and snack times decreased slightly to 1 hour and 48 minutes, down by 7 minutes.
Among mandatory time, work hours averaged 4 hours and 16 minutes, showing a minimal decrease of 1 minute compared to ten years ago. In contrast, household and caregiving time dropped to 1 hour and 53 minutes, a reduction of 35 minutes. Specifically, household tasks decreased by 12 minutes, while caregiving tasks fell by 22 minutes. Study time increased by 6 minutes to 31 minutes, and commuting time decreased by 8 minutes to 1 hour and 42 minutes.
The composition of leisure time also changed. Time spent watching live broadcasts decreased by 39 minutes to 40 minutes, while viewing videos on platforms like YouTube and OTT services increased by 52 minutes to 55 minutes. Gaming and recreational activities rose by 19 minutes to 34 minutes, while socializing and participation time decreased by 15 minutes to 48 minutes.
While the participation of married men with children in household tasks has increased, women still dedicate more time to these responsibilities. In 2024, dual-income married women with children spent an average of 4 hours on household and caregiving tasks, compared to men who spent 2 hours and 17 minutes, resulting in a difference of 1 hour and 43 minutes. Ten years ago, women spent 4 hours and 30 minutes, while men spent 1 hour and 14 minutes. Although men's household and caregiving time increased by 1 hour and 3 minutes over the decade, women's time decreased by 30 minutes, indicating that the burden still falls more heavily on women.
When examining household and caregiving separately, in 2024, dual-income married men with children spent 54 minutes on household tasks and 1 hour and 22 minutes on caregiving. In contrast, women allocated 2 hours each to household and caregiving tasks. Compared to ten years ago, men's household time increased by 27 minutes, and caregiving time rose by 35 minutes. Women's household time decreased by 30 minutes, while caregiving time remained the same at 2 hours.
Han Hyung-jun, head of the National Data Agency, stated, "This analysis clearly shows how time use varies among young people based on marital status and the presence of children. We will continue to provide foundational data through time use surveys to closely monitor changes in how citizens allocate their time and to support policies aimed at improving work-life balance and enhancing the quality of life for the public."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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