This study analyzes whether the number of children is associated with wage differences between older men and women. The focus is on the extent to which family size captures gendered patterns of labor market attachment that accumulate over the life course. In the Korean context, where care responsibilities have been distributed unevenly, the number of children provides a practical indicator of differential exposure to employment interruptions and reduced working hours. The analysis uses nine waves of KLoSA data (2006–2022) and includes individuals aged 65 to 85. Panel random-effects models and growth curve models are applied to examine both wage levels and change over time. The results show persistent gender differences in later-life wages. A larger number of children is associated with lower wages for both men and women, with a more pronounced effect among women. Wage trajectories also diverge by gender as individuals age. These patterns suggest that wage inequality in old age reflects long-term differences in labor market participation shaped by family roles. Incorporating the number of children into analyses of later-life economic outcomes provides a clearer view of how gendered constraints earlier in life translate into unequal resources in later years.

Authors:
Youly Yi, Yonsei University, South Korea

About the Presenter(s)
Ph.D. student in Sociology at Yonsei University researching aging, gender inequality, and late-life labor markets.

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