Socioeconomic factors affecting female labor force participation: A Case study of Lahore district

Abstract

Labor-force participation analysis is important for developing employment and human resource development policies. Females represent approximately fifty percent of the entire population of Pakistan and play a vital role in the country. This paper aims to quantify the numerous factors affecting female labor force participation in Lahore district. The study is based on cross-sectional data gathered through questionnaires. The technique of logit regression on 450 observations is used to estimate the factors affecting female labor force participation. The empirical results show that educational attainment levels, marital status have a positive and significant effect on female labor force whereas female lives in joint family system and urban region less likely to participate in labor force market. Household head participation in economic activities decrease the female labor force participation. Paper also shows that in Lahore weak women empowerment exist. If female alone decides about her job, her participation in labor market decreases.