Women’s university attainment and labor force participation in Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Abstract

While women’s university graduation rates currently exceed those of men in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, women’s labor force participation has remained stagnant. To understand the causes of this increase in women’s higher education and what keeps the resulting masses of university-educated women from exploding into the work force in the GCC, this study explores possible explanations for this graduation-to-work discrepancy, including economic, sociological, and political factors. Among economic factors considered are the historical legacy of colonial economic partnerships, the rentier state status of various GCC countries, the importation of foreign labor, and recent efforts to nationalize the workforce and diversify the economy. Among the sociological factors considered are traditional gender roles and demographic trends in the region. Lastly, political factors considered are relevant legislation and government policies related to women’s work and larger geo-political issues that GCC countries face, such as pressures to modernize and security challenges in the region.