The Determinants of Female Unemployment and Participation in the Jordanian Labor Market 1970-2017

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the determinants of female unemployment rates and female economic participation rates in the Jordanian labor market during the period 1970-2017.
 Methods: To achieve the objectives of this study, both descriptive analysis and econometric methods were adopted to investigate the determinants of economic participation and unemployment for females, where the Auto Regressive Distribution Lag Model (ARDL) was used.
 Results: The study finds that female unemployment rates were positively affected by both real GDP and the numbers of the female labor force. It also found that female economic participation rates were positively affected by the average annual income and numbers of the female labor force, but they were negatively affected by the volume of foreign direct investment. The study concludes that there are many determinants affecting female participation rates in the Jordanian labor market, most notably the occupational, sectoral, educational, and demographic factors.
 Conclusions: The study recommends taking all possible means to stimulate economic growth, and thus create new job opportunities in the national economy. It also recommends linking the incentives and exemptions granted to foreign investment to the employment of Jordanians, especially females.