Gender differences in formal wage employment in urban Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACT We use the Tanzania Integrated Labour Force Survey data and a censored bivariate probit model to analyse gender differences in labour force participation and gender bias in formal wage employment in urban Tanzania. We find that, compared to men, women are less likely to participate in the labour market and less likely to obtain formal wage employment, suggesting the existence of gender bias in the labour market in urban areas of Tanzania. However, after accounting for selection into labour force participation, the existing gender bias is narrowed for women with high school or university education. The regression results suggest that the existing gender differences in formal wage employment probabilities cannot entirely be explained by observable characteristics. The finding of a positive unexplained formal wage employment probability differential suggests that the possibility of gender discrimination against women in urban Tanzania cannot be completely ruled out.