A study on the working condition of speech-language pathologists in Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the employment type of speech-language pathologists, subscription of social security insurance, workplace, working hours, salary, and types of disability of the subjects to be treated, and analyze the information on the actual working conditions to utilize it in policy proposals for speech-language pathologists, considering the changes in economic structure and employment environment and their aspects.Methods: The study was conducted through an online Google questionnaire for speech-language pathologists. The total number of participants was 1,414. The results were processed using SPSS 25.0, and descriptive statistics were performed.Results: First, private speech therapy centers (731 people, 48.1%), social welfare facilities (240 people, 15.8%), and development centers attached to the hospital (164 people, 10.8%) were in order of the type of workplace of speech-language pathologists. Second, the types of work of speech-language pathologists were professional freelance workers (608 people, 44.9%), full-time jobs (551 people, 40.7%), contract workers of fixed payment (95 people, 7.0%), and contract workers of combination with fixed payment and rate system payment (65 people, 4.8%). Third, the insurance coverage of speech-language pathologists was in the order of four major insurances (862 people, 66.2%), non-insured (284 people, 21.8%), and two major insurances (148 people, 11.4%). Fourth, the numbers of speech-language pathologists workplaces were 1 workplace (689 people, 72.2%), 2 workplaces (206 people, 21.6%), others (36 people, 3.8%), and 3 workplaces (23 people, 2.4%).Conclusions: After COVID-19, there was a change in perception of the speech-language pathologists’ employment type. The results of this study will be used to improve the treatment of speech-language pathologists, such as through policy proposals for employment stability and the expansion of high-quality workplaces.