Female Labor Force Participation Research Articles

Sex crime rate and female labour force participation in South Africa

ABSTRACT South Africa's high violent crime rates and associated fears of victimisation are known to affect residents' everyday decision-making. Rape and sex crimes (which predominantly target women), compounded by social stigma and high HIV-contraction risks, thus plays an influencing factor in a woman's life. At the same time, South Africa's gender participation gap exceeds the Sub-Saharan African average. The first of its kind in the South African context, this study uses panel data to assess the impact of district municipality sex crime rates on female labour force participation (FLFP). It improves on similar studies performed in other country contexts methodologically by highlighting the mediating effect of education in the relationship between sex crime rate and FLFP. The negative significant relationship between district sex crime rates and FLFP is found to be robust to the inclusion of a wide variety of controls and several instrumental variable specifications, with adverse impacts on education emerging as a mediating factor. The analysis points to an underrated cost of sex crimes in South Africa, especially on women. The risk-averting behaviour extends beyond victims themselves to women in the general population who, perceiving a high risk of victimisation, face restricted freedoms, worse educational and economic outcomes.

A comparative analysis of variants of machine learning and time series models in predicting women’s participation in the labor force

Labor force participation of Egyptian women has been a chronic economic problem in Egypt. Despite the improvement in the human capital front, whether on the education or health indicators, female labor force participation remains persistently low. This study proposes a hybrid machine-learning model that integrates principal component analysis (PCA) for feature extraction with various machine learning and time-series models to predict women’s employment in times of crisis. Various machine learning (ML) algorithms, such as support vector machine (SVM), neural network, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), linear regression, random forest, and AdaBoost, in addition to popular time series algorithms, including autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and vector autoregressive (VAR) models, have been applied to an actual dataset from the public sector. The manpower dataset considered gender from different regions, ages, and educational levels. The dataset was then trained, tested, and evaluated. For performance validation, forecasting accuracy metrics were constructed using mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percent error (MAPE), R-squared (R2), and cross-validated root mean squared error (CVRMSE). Another Dickey-Fuller test was performed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of the applied models, and the results showed that AdaBoost outperforms the other methods by an accuracy of 100%. Compared to alternative works, our findings demonstrate a comprehensive comparative analysis for predicting women’s participation in different regions during an economic crisis.

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.

Influence of Women Head of Government on the Human Capital of Women in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam

Purpose: This study aims to explore the influence of women heads of government on human capital development and gender inequality, specifically focusing on education and health in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam from 1991 to 2021. Despite the increasing presence of women in leadership roles globally, their impact on human capital indicators remains underexplored. Methodology: To investigate this, the research employs a comparative approach that includes the Levin-Lin Chu Test, Im-Pesaran-Shin Test, Fixed Effects, Random Effects, and Ordinary Least Squares to analyze data from countries with female leaders and evaluate changes in educational attainment and health outcomes during their tenures. Findings: The findings reveal that while higher educational attainment among women and increased representation of women in political leadership do not automatically result in greater labor force participation, female life expectancy has a significant and positive effect on female labor force participation (FLFP), indicating that healthier women are more likely to engage in the workforce. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy This research uniquely contributes to understanding the role of female leadership in fostering inclusive growth and emphasizes the importance of gender representation in political leadership for advancing human capital.

Exploring Education-Induced Bargaining Power of Women on Household Welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa

Women’s education and empowerment have engaged the interest of policymakers and academics for many years. We employ individual-level data from Ghana and Uganda in this paper to offer a comparative analysis of the impact of women’s education and empowerment on six household welfare indicators: child labor, child school enrollment, female labor force participation, fertility rate, household food expenditure, and nutrition intake. Comparing the two countries is insightful due to their distinct socio-economic structures and cultural contexts, which might influence the dynamics of women’s empowerment differently. The study utilizes the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Instrumental Variables (IV) regressions and provides a battery of robustness tests. The empirical results show that in a household, the woman’s and man’s education levels are significant determinants of household welfare. However, contrary to common assumptions, the woman’s education does not have a stronger effect than the man’s, and her relative bargaining position has negligible effects on the welfare indicators studied, at least for the cases of Ghana and Uganda. Further sensitivity checks support these findings, suggesting that female education can improve household welfare, but its impact may not necessarily operate through enhanced bargaining power within the household.

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.

Constraints on Female Labor Force Participation in Qatar: Understanding the Effects of Marriage, Family, and Traditional Values

Abstract This paper examines constraints to female labor force participation in Qatar, a country where state revenue from natural resource rents means any citizen can secure a public sector job should they seek employment. Using data from an original survey and focus groups, we find that although Qataris are generally in support of female labor force participation – both in principle and for their own relatives – concerns remain about the impact of women working for marriage, family, and traditional values. These concerns may be especially salient for younger Qatari men – a constituency particularly impacted by erosion of traditional gender norms at a time when they are establishing their own households. We also find that Qataris with a larger percentage of male children tend to be less supportive of women working outside of the home, suggesting forms of family-level variation in investment in patriarchal values and child rearing practices.

Gender inequality in time allocation across life stages: a comparative study in a Latin American country

ABSTRACT The study analyzes gender differences in time use in the Latin American context, from a comparative perspective (2010–2019) and across life stages. Particularly, the study presents evidence on the likelihood of women and men spending time on three types of activities: Household work, paid work activities, and personal activities. Logistic regression was applied using data from time use surveys conducted in Peru in 2010 and 2019. The results suggests that women were much more likely to spend additional time on household work, while men were more likely to spend additional time on paid work and personal activities. However, these differences became less pronounced in 2019. In terms of age groups, a U-shaped and an inverted U-shaped pattern were found for paid work activities and household chores respectively. In both cases, the largest gender gap was found in the 30–39 age group, possibly related to motherhood. The originality of the research lies in providing a comprehensive analysis of gender inequality in time use in a developing country that has one of the highest rates of female labor force participation in the region, and is also characterized by a patriarchal structure in which machismo and marianismo influence time distribution.

Linkage between Female Labor Force Participation, Fertility Rate and Marriage Score in India

This study investigates the complex dynamics of female labor force participation (FLF) in India, with a focus on trends and relevant factors from 2000 to2022 collected from World Development Indicator provided by World Bank. Annual changes and compound annual growth rates of FLF has assessed using the year-on-year growth rate and compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The study uses Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis to evaluate the link between FLF and its major drivers like fertility rate and marriage score. The result shows, India's female labour force participation rose in 2001 to 2005 before declining in 2006. This decrease has anticipated owing to the COVID-19 pandemic's economic impact in 2020. CAGR (-0.960) shows a decline in female labour force participation in India for the entire period, which may be due to cultural norms, access to education and employment, and socioeconomic inequalities. FLF is positively affected by Fertility rate, and marriage score.

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

A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Work-from-Home as a Workable Strategy for Female Participation in Labor Force from a Conventional Culture

A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Work-from-Home as a Workable Strategy for Female Participation in Labor Force from a Conventional Culture

What influences women’s participation in the private sector workforce in Oman?

PurposeWomen’s employment has been a contentious issue in the Arab world. However, in today’s changing work conditions, workplaces, and the growth in education, women have increasingly occupied higher-level roles, and their presence in diverse industries has expanded. The study takes a holistic approach to female labor force participation (FLFP) in Oman, encompassing various theories and factors influencing women’s engagement in private sector jobs.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed an exploratory design followed by a qualitative analysis based on a constructivist grounded theory approach. The study involved 170 semi-structured face-to-face interviews with women workers in Oman’s private sector. It explored work–family conflict (WFC), work–life balance (WLB), organizational and family support, and societal bias impacting female labor force participation.FindingsThe low FLFP in Oman’s private sector is a complex issue shaped by various interconnected challenges. Our qualitative analysis synthesizes a conceptual framework that highlights WFC and WLB as pivotal factors behind low FLFP, as women in the private sector face long work hours, low salaries, and high responsibilities. Our study confirms that these women receive substantial familial support in dealing with WFC but lack organizational support and family-friendly policies (FFPs).Practical implicationsAddressing the low participation of women in Oman’s private sector labor force necessitates comprehensive strategies encompassing legislative measures, cultural shifts, and organizational reforms. Implementing these strategies creates an environment where women feel empowered to participate and actively thrive in the private sector workforce.Social implicationsThis study indicates the presence of some serious social issues, such as society’s bias, lack of support for working women, and the gender gap in the private sector workforce, which has broad implications and significance for Oman. The study indicates the positive role of support women receive from their families, organizations, and Oman labor law and what could improve their participation further.Originality/valueThis study addresses the limited research on challenges encountered by women in Oman’s private-sector workforce. Our research addresses this gap by answering key questions, collecting and interpreting data, and developing a comprehensive conceptual framework. This framework aims to elucidate the factors contributing to women’s reluctance to pursue private-sector employment, considering the diverse issues they confront.

Female Labor Force Participation in Bangladesh and Neighboring Indian States

Female Labor Force Participation in Bangladesh and Neighboring Indian States

Gendered Relationship of Childbearing with Earnings Accumulated by Midlife in Two Nordic Welfare States

AbstractThe Nordic welfare states are considered advanced in terms of gender equality, but even in these countries women still take longer family leave and have lower earnings than men. This study provides new insights by assessing the differences in accumulated midlife earnings associated with childbearing between women and men in Finland and Sweden. We pay particular attention to the size of the gender gap in accumulated earnings across groups. We hypothesize that the gender gap will be larger among those with a larger number of children, among those with a lower level of education, and overall in Finland. The study is based on complete population register data, with highly accurate measures of earnings over decades. Our results show that by the age of 44, women born in 1974–1975 in Finland and Sweden had earned on average 32% and 29% less than men, respectively. Childbearing strongly modifies the gender gap, especially in Finland, and the highly educated have moderately smaller gaps in both countries. Our results show that, even the Nordic welfare states, despite their strong policy emphasis on gender equality and their success in achieving high levels of female labor force participation, are far from closing the gender gap in earnings accumulated over the first half of the life course. Our results also suggest that governments seeking to achieve gender equality should be cautious about providing long family-related leave with flat-rate compensation.

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.

Index of female labour force participation and its association with demographic dividends of India

ndia has entered into Amrit Kaal (an auspicious period most conducive to achieving the country’s potential). Share of working-age population (WAP) has exceeded the combined share of children and elderly population since 2018 and is likely to continue till 2055 with peak expected around 2041. To take maximum advantage of demographic dividends, India needs to increase female labour participation rate (FLFPR) and bring the unemployed labour into the labour market by implementing policies aiming at gender equality, improved health, education, expansion of opportunities of employment, etc. The paper describes multidimensional index of FLFPR of a country at t-th year I F L F P R t by aggregating correlates of FLFPR and also describes measures of both first and second demographic dividends ( and ). I F L F P R t avoids problems of logarithmic transformations, scaling/normalization, finding weights and issues related to multiple regressions and involves no bias for developed, developing or under-developed countries. Since base period figures are different for different countries, comparison of countries may be meaningful in terms of progress made from base period or on Year-to-Year basis. Since higher considering theoretical advantages, I F L F P R t is recommended for finding relationship of the form Demographic dividend = α + β ( F L F P R ) further relationship of GDPt or Per Capita GDPt of a country with ( F D D t and S D D t ) by regression analysis to see effect of FLFPR on economic growth.

Religion and female labor force participation in India

Religion and female labor force participation in <scp>India</scp>

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.