Female Labor Force Participation Rate Research Articles

The Socioeconomic Impact of Fertility Rates on Nigeria's Development: A Policy Perspective

This paper explores the socioeconomic impact of Nigerias high fertility rate and its influence on the countrys economic development. With a fertility rate of 5.14 children per woman in 2022, far exceeding the global average, Nigeria faces significant demographic challenges. The analysis focuses on three critical data points: fertility rate, female tertiary education rate, and female labor force participation rate. The findings highlight how cultural factors, educational attainment, and labor market participation contribute to sustained high fertility rates, particularly in rural areas. Additionally, the paper examines how these factors exacerbate gender inequality and limit economic opportunities for women, thereby hindering Nigeria's overall economic progress. Policy recommendations include promoting female education and workforce participation to help manage population growth and stimulate economic development.

Contemporary Demographic and Economic Processes in Russia: A Statistical Analysis of Their Interaction

The article analyses the relationships between economic and demographic processes in contemporary Russia.Using index analysis, the author concluded that, in 2006–2018, a decline in the working-age population would have reduced, ceteris paribus, almost one-third of the GDP growth rate if the negative impact of this factor had not been fully compensated by an increase in the employment rate of the working-age population during this period. Growth of fertility in 2007–2015 would have led, if the influence of the situation on the labor market was eliminated, to a decrease in the number of employees by 1.2% (caused by the decline in female labor force participation rate), while fertility decrease after 2015 would have led to an increase in this number by 0.4%. Based on this estimation, it was concluded that the changes in fertility can, in the short term, have any significant impact on employment only in those types of economic activity in which the women of reproductive age make up the overwhelming majority of the employees.It has been suggested that the accumulation of socio-psychological prerequisites for a decline in fertility has led the demographic system, both in Western countries and in Russia, into a state of unstable equilibrium. The global financial crises of 2008–2009 and the 2014–2015 financial crisis in Russia upset this equilibrium and launched a mechanism for fertility decline. It is argued that in the period under consideration, the Russian economy adapted to the turbulence of the external environment more successfully than the demographic sphere

Leaving No One Behind: Examining the effect of financial, gender, and digital inclusion on sustainable development

AbstractThis paper analyzes the effects of different dimensions of inclusion toward the attainment of sustainable development in 33 sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries from the financial, gender, and technological perspectives between 2004 and 2021. This study employs the System Generalized Method of Moments given its ability to address potential endogeneity issues, capture the dynamic nature of relationships, and mitigate potential biases while adopting the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors for robustness check. Findings reveal two of the three measures of financial inclusion wield positive and significant effects on sustainable development while credit to the private sector is found to be detrimental. Also, all three measures of gender inclusion (female employment to population, female labor force participation rate, and the number of women holding a seat in parliament) positively influence sustainable development. Contrastingly, the coefficients of digital inclusion (mobile phone subscription and internet usage) were revealed to be harmful to sustainable development in SSA. This paper advocates for increased financial inclusion through financial literacy, customized financial products, and gender‐sensitive financial services. Pertinent are gender policies that address gender norms in addition to the enactment, avowed commitment, and support for affirmative action toward closing gender gaps across all sectors and at all levels.

The Role Of Cooperatives In Enhancing Women’s Empowerment In Rural India

This study explores the role of cooperatives in enhancing women’s empowerment in rural India through a comprehensive analysis of secondary data. Cooperatives have emerged as a powerful tool for rural women, providing them with economic opportunities, social capital, and political influence. The research focuses on key indicators, including the female labour force participation rate (LFPR), access to finance, leadership roles, and participation in local governance. Data from various sources, including government reports and research publications, highlight that while cooperatives significantly contribute to women’s economic independence and social empowerment, challenges remain. Cultural barriers, lack of formal education, and restricted access to financial resources continue to hinder the full participation of women in cooperatives, particularly in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The study finds that states with better cooperative frameworks, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, exhibit higher participation rates and greater empowerment outcomes. Recommendations include enhancing financial literacy programs, promoting gender-sensitive policies, and improving cooperative infrastructure in underserved regions. These findings underscore the importance of cooperatives as a vehicle for holistic empowerment, but also emphasize the need for tailored regional interventions to address persistent barriers

Industrial Sector Performance and Labour Force Participation in Nigeria: A Gender Perspective

The literature on the role of industrialization in labour force participation in Nigeria is quite scanty. Besides, there is significant disparity between male and female labour force participation rates in the country. To this end, this study investigated the impact of industrial sector performance on labour force participation in Nigeria. The total industrial sector output was disaggregated into the outputs of the various components of the Nigerian industrial sector namely; manufacturing, mining and quarrying, utility and construction sectors. Total labour force participation rate was equally disaggregated into male and female labour force participation rates. Annual time-series data for the period 1981 to 2022 were used for the study. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, Johansen cointegration test, error correction model (ECM), and Granger causality test were the econometric techniques used in analysing the data. The findings from the study revealed that manufacturing sector, and mining and quarrying sector outputs have significant positive impact on male labour force participation rate; construction sector output has insignificant positive impact on male labour force participation rate while utility sector output has insignificant negative impact on male labour force participation rate. On the other hand, manufacturing sector, and mining and quarrying sector outputs have significant negative impact on female labour participation rate while utility and construction sectors’ outputs have insignificant positive impact on female labour force participation rate. The main conclusion from the study is that while the total industrial sector performance largely encourages male labour force participation, it largely discourages female labour force participation in Nigeria

Unravelling the threads: understanding the interplay of Cultural values, female workforce engagement, human development index and suicide rates.

Suicide is a major public health problem across the world. Extensive research on the field shows that suicide is affected by several sociological, economic, and cultural risk factors. Over the last century, social changes have driven the reshaping of traditional gender roles, often in an uneven fashion, strongly depending on context. This study proposes updated findings on the impact that changes in traditional gender roles could have on suicide rates METHODS: It will do so by examining the correlation between female labor force participation (FLPR) and sex-specific suicide rates. Moreover, it will examine this association depending on human development (HDI) and Hofstede's individualism index. To do so, data from 2010 to 2019 from 47 countries is collected from the WHO, ILOSTAT and UN agencies' websites. Analysis show a significant interaction between FLPR, HDI and individualism index scores on male suicide rates (p = 0.002). There is a negative association between FLPR and male suicide rates in relatively lower HDI countries, while in very high HDI countries an increase in FLPR is correlated with an increase in male suicide rates. Similar trends but no significant interaction is observed for female suicide rates. This study suggests that female participation is beneficial for male population as it reduces male suicide rates. However, this association appears to be context dependent. In countries where institutional adjustment is already established, and human development is very high, other factors might be of interest in examining the trends of suicide rates among men and women.

Exploring the impact of massification of higher education on the labour force participation and empowerment of Malaysian women

This paper aims to investigate the mismatch between the massification of higher education and the participation of women in the labour force in Malaysia. The objective is to statistically uncover the effect of educational attainment on the female labour force participation rate. The paper analyzed the data collected from various sources, like the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the Department of Statistics Malaysia. The paper employed various hypotheses tests, including the independent samples T-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis test, to assess the relationship and determine whether to accept or reject the study hypotheses. The finding showed that females substantially outnumbered males among higher education’s graduates. Despite this improvement, women remain underrepresented in the labour force compared to the rate of their education attainment as well as that of men. The paper statistically rejects the notion that there is a positive linear connection between educating women and labour force participation. It is not all about educating women; decision-makers have to search for other factors that hinder women from fully participating in the labour force, particularly in the world of Muslim nations. The paper enriches the literature on gender parity and contributes to the ongoing debate about the effect of education on female labour force participation.

Reading The Literature on Female Labor Force Participation Rates with Content Analysis

Reading The Literature on Female Labor Force Participation Rates with Content Analysis

The demographical and economic factors affecting female labor force participation in Saudi Arabia

The female labor force participation holds significant implications for various aspects of society, the economy, and individual lives. Understanding its significance involves recognizing the multifaceted impact of women’s participation in the workforce. In this context, the current study investigates the factors influencing the female labor force participation rate in Saudi Arabia while using a set of independent variables such as GDP growth, employment-to-population ratio, inflation, urban population growth, tertiary school enrollment, labor force with advanced education, fertility rate, and age dependency ratio, covering a period from 2000 to 2022. The results reveal that the employment-to-population ratio, inflation rate, urbanization, and age dependency ratio have positive and statistically significant impacts on the female labor force participation rate. This research offers valuable insights for formulating policies to foster female empowerment and overcome the obstacles that hinder their economic participation.

Unpaid work, paid work and gender inequality: An analysis of time transfer accounts for Turkey

AbstractThis paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the total (market and non-market) gender-based production and consumption activities of Turkish men and women at different stages of their life-cycle. Turkey, one of the few emerging economies within the OECD, offers an interesting case-study as its female labour force participation rate is one of the lowest among OECD countries. Our results show that time spent by Turkish women on household activities is, on average, 30 h a week, basically three times as much as men. In fact, the women-to-men time use ratio for unpaid work is roughly twice as much as the OECD average. We estimate that the monetary value of women unpaid household production exceeds 29% of GDP, while the corresponding estimate for men is around 8%. Using the concept of life-cycle deficit, we also show that Turkish men are dependent on housework undertaken by women over their entire lifetime, which is an almost unique feature in comparison to the European and OECD countries. Finally, unlike other OECD countries that have introduced disincentives to early retirement, Turkish men continue to retire early but retain their acquired habits of not sharing the burden of household work.

Exploring Factors and Disparities: Female Labor Force Participation in the Palestinian Regions: East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza Strip

This paper investigates Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) across the Palestinian regions of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Utilizing data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics spanning from 1999 to 2018, we employ logistic regression models and age-period-cohort analyses to examine the determinants and trends shaping FLFP. Despite a notable increase in FLFP rates in Gaza since 2008, East Jerusalem witnesses a declining trend, widening the gap between East Jerusalem and the West Bank/Gaza strip. Our investigation aims to elucidate these regional differences, considering both supply-side and demand-side factors. Supply-side factors encompass social and gender norms, as well as social structure, while demand-side factors include structural changes in the economy over time, the availability of public sector employment, predominant economic activities engaging women (services and agriculture), and the repercussions of economic shocks on FLFP (added worker effect), among other factors.

An ARDL Method for Evaluating Bangladesh’s Economic Growth Concerning Female Secondary Education

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between Bangladesh’s economic growth and female secondary education. For this reason, the effects of female secondary education, female labour force participation rate, and female fertility rate on Bangladesh’s Real GDP growth rate are investigated over the years 1995–2021, using a quantitative approach. A long-term relationship between the variables is demonstrated by the Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) Cointegration Model, wherein the fertility rate is negatively significant and the female participation rate in the labour force and secondary education are positively significant on the real GDP growth rate. The study uses the Error Correction Model (ECM) to record the speed of adjustment. There is short-run adjustment throughout the entire system, as indicated by the statistically significant and theoretically correct sign of the error correction term coefficient. A more thorough examination is necessary as the Causality test reveals an unanticipated unidirectional association between female secondary education and economic growth.

Comparative Analysis between Quality of Life and Human Labor in Countries Belonging to G7 and BRICS Blocks: Proposition of Discriminant Analysis Model

The aim of the present research is to identify and analyze the variables which help to effectively differentiate Quality of Life (QoL) and human labor in the G7 (Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States of America—USA) and BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) through a discriminant analysis. A discriminant analysis model is developed to classify countries as having a low, mid, or high QoL based on QoL and human labor variables. The variables used in the discriminant analysis were obtained between 2010 and 2022 from two platforms: NUMBEO variables capable of relating QoL to socioeconomic aspects and OECD’s (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) human-labor-related variables. Based on the results, the three variables that most discriminate the groups in order of importance are employed women in relation to the female population, the female labor force participation rate, and the female unemployment rate. Countries are classified as having a low, mid, or high QoL. The adopted technique will allow researchers and managers to classify and draw goals for action reorganization and investment in QoL and labor.

Testing the validity of feminization U-shape hypothesis for female labor force participation and economic development in Pakistan: a reexamination

PurposeThe participation of females in economic activity remains a challenge, and received a lot of attention for a better labor policy discourse. The empirical research focused widely on the relationship between female labor force participation (FLFP) and economic development, called the feminization U-shape hypothesis. However, the linear/nonlinear relationship has been questioned due to empirical and methodological anomalies. Hence, this study aims to extend the previous work by reexamining this relationship in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe annual data from 1980 to 2021, the unit root tests augmented Dickey–Fuller and Phillips and Perron, the conventional autoregressive distributed lag bound test approach by including the quadratic-term of GDP per capita and the novel Sasabuchi–Lind–Mehlum (SLM) U test (2010) used for empirical estimation.FindingsThe findings revealed the prospects of a long-run nonlinear association between FLFP and economic development in Pakistan. However, an inverse U-shape exists between the female labor force participation rate (FLFPR) and GDP per capita, predicting that FLFP may decline in the future.Research limitations/implicationsThe traditional feminization U-shape hypothesis has little empirical support in the case of Pakistan. Therefore, the Government of Pakistan should enhance the enabling environment for females through the provision of better job opportunities, technical skills, on-the-job training and social security benefits during all phases of economic development.Originality/valueThe conventional approach of testing U-shape is insufficient. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, therefore, this study incorporated a wider data set in a time series that is less evident, an advanced methodology SLM U test (2010), to validate the feminization U-shape hypothesis in Pakistan for the first time.

Care to work? Policy Considerations for Engaging Jordanian Women in the Workforce

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenge of adapting care and family policies to the government of Jordan’s objectives, from economic development goals to maintaining social norms. Motives for interventions seem to signal an interest in gender equity and concerns around child development and family preservation. Indeed, for some, Jordan’s emerging caregiving market (and other liberal policies) might signal an easing in archetypal gendered norms around caregiving, domestic work, and women’s roles inside and outside of the public spheres. However, an analysis of the theory underlying care work and social reproduction along with a review of Jordanian social perceptions—among men and women alike—hints at a potential gap in policy. The paper challenges policymakers to consider the stubborn female labor force participation rate differently. The paper starts by untangling feminist theories around care and work. It then explores Jordan’s specific context regarding norms and perceptions around gender and work and gender and care. From there, it reviews and analyzes Jordan’s policies and presents opportunities for policymaking.

Factors Affecting the Participation Rate of Women in the Labor Force in Lima Puluh Kota Regency Using Probit Regression Analysis

Labor currently plays a very important role in a country's economy. In the labour sector, women still experience discrimination, which causes the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of women to remain low compared to men. The LFPR of men in Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota is higher than the LFPR of women. In 2022, the female LFPR was 63.75%, meaning that of the total labour force, around 63.75% of them were working or looking for work. This study aims to determine the factors that influence women's participation in the labour force in Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota. This research is applied using the probit regression analysis method. The data used is secondary data, which is microdata from the National Labor Force Survey (SAKERNAS). Based on the results of the analysis, the factors that influence the level of women's participation in the labour force in Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota in 2022 are education level, age, job training status, and status as head of household.

공통요인 효과를 고려한 아태지역 국가의 합계출산율 결정요인 분석

Purpose - This study examines the impact on total fertility rate in 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on female labor market participation and labor market instability. Design/Methodology/Approach - There is a common factors effect of cross-sectional dependence on the total fertility rate, explanatory variables, and residuals. Therefore, it was estimated using the CS-ARDL (Cross-Sectionally augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lags) model that considers the dynamics of total fertility rate, common factors effect, and heterogeneity by country. Findings - Female labor market participation and labor market instability have a negative (-) effect on the total fertility rate, but the coefficient of the interaction term is estimated to have a positive (+) sign, so it should be considered in the impact of the labor force participation rate and unemployment rate. Research Implications - A low female labor force participation rate and unemployment rate drive a high total fertility rate, but countries with a high labor force participation rate should have a high unemployment rate, and countries with a high unemployment rate should have a high labor force participation rate. Therefore, policies are needed to enable women to balance work and family life, and facilitate entry into the labor market.

Female Labor-Force Participation as Suicide Prevention: A Population Study in Taiwan

Objective Female labor-force participation (FLFP) has been theorized as contributing to higher suicide rates, including among women. Evidence on this relationship, however, has been mixed. This study explored the association between FLFP and suicide in an understudied context, Taiwan, and across 40-years. Methods Annual national labor-participation rates for women ages 25–64, and female and male suicide-rates, for 1980–2020, were obtained from Taiwan’s Department of Statistics. The associations between FLFP rates and sex/age-stratified suicide-rates, and between FLFP rates and male-to-female suicide-rates ratios were assessed via time-series regression-analyses, accounting for autoregressive effects. Results Higher FLFP rates were associated with lower female suicide-rates (ß = −0.06, 95% CI (Credibility Interval) = [−0.19, −0.01]) in the adjusted model. This association held in the age-stratified analyses. Associations for FLFP and lower male suicide-rates were observed in the ≥45 age-groups. FLFP rates were significantly and positively associated with widening male-to-female suicide-rates ratios in the adjusted model (ß = 0.24, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.59]). Conclusion This study’s findings suggest that FLFP protects women from suicide, and point to the potential value of FLFP as a way of preventing suicide. In Taiwan, employed women carry a double-load of paid and family unpaid care-work. Child care-work is still done by mothers, often with grandmothers’ support. Therefore, this study’s findings contribute to evidence that doing both paid work and unpaid family care-work has more benefits than costs, including in terms of suicide-protection. Men’s disengagement from family care-work may contribute to their high suicide rates, despite their substantial labor-force participation.

ANALISIS FAKTOR KEPUTUSAN PEREMPUAN DI KOTA MALANG UNTUK BEKERJA DI SEKTOR JASA

The female labor force participation rate has been increasing in recent years, and in the city of Malang, women tend to choose to work in the service sector. This research aims to examine the factors that drive the decision of women in Malang to work in the service sector. The method used is Factor Analysis with the goal of reducing and identifying the main factors or dominant factors that influence the decision of women in Malang to work in the service sector. The research findings indicate two main factors: Family Responsibility and Socio-Economic. Another finding in this study is the tendency of female workers to work in the informal sector, and the growth of the service sector can be seen from the many new professions that have become choices for female workers.

지역 합계출산율에 영향을 미치는 요인 분석

Purpose - Low fertility rate is a serious problem, and this study analyzes factors affecting total fertility rate using panel data from 16 metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea from 2000 to 2022. Design/methodology/approach - Estimating the SAR model considering the weak cross-sectional dependence that exists in variables related to the regional total fertility rate, and using the DKSE estimation method considering the strong cross-sectional dependence. Findings - Estimation results considering weak and strong cross-sectional dependence were similar, confirming the robustness of the results. Female labor force participation rate has a positive effect on total fertility rate, and employment rate has no effect. However, the interaction term is a negative (-) sign. Crude marriage rate has a positive effect on total fertility rate, and apartment price has a slightly positive effect. Environmental factor has no effect, and policy factor has a negative effect. Research implications or Originality - In order for an increase in the female labor force participation rate to lead to an increase in the total fertility rate, qualitative improvements in female employment must be made. Financial investment policies for childbirth must increase their effectiveness. The problem of low fertility rate requires not only population policy but also social, economic, cultural, environmental, and policy conditions to be considered.