A Statistical Analysis of Female Participation in Work and Effects on the Population and Socioeconomic Development: A Case Study of Greece

Abstract

The twentieth century has been characterized by truly amazing progress in the sectors of science and technology. From a social and moral viewpoint, the most important feature of this is the independence of women and the lifting of previously held reservations regarding the capability of women to live and to create without depending economically and socially on men, whether husbands or fathers. In fact, the time has passed when women had as their sole occupation in life the cares of the household. Nowadays, women contribute by their labor supply to the production of goods and services as equal members of society. The female supply of labor has caused an increased demand for their skills and services. Women are no longer employed only in jobs traditionally associated with women, but they also work in jobs considered to be nontraditional, for instance, as workers in industry. Consequently, we can say that female economic activity plays an important role in enhancing productivity while affecting the quality and composition of the economically active population. In spite of all this, many factors influence the participation of women in work, primarily restrictively; therefore, there still is a lack of homogeneity in participation rates in the populations of men and women. Finally, the participation of women in work contributes substantially to socioeconomic development, whereas it unfavorably affects population evolution.