Female Labor Force Participation Research Articles

The Demand-Side Story: Structural Change and the Decline in Female Labour Force Participation in India

The Demand-Side Story: Structural Change and the Decline in Female Labour Force Participation in India

An Analysis of the Impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 on Female Labour Force Participation in India

The financial emancipation of women is crucial for female empowerment and economic growth. Participation of women in the labour force equips them better to combat socio-economic issues while simultaneously boosting economic activity and GDP at the macro level(Buterin et al., 2023). Despite this, even in the 21st century, women's participation in the workforce is less than 47% compared to 72% for men(The Gender Gap in Employment: What’s Holding Women Back?, n.d.). The reasons for this disparity include both demand-side (opportunities for women to work) and supply-side (availability for women to work) factors. This paper explores women's labour force participation in India and the factors influencing it. It evaluates the impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 as a demand-side policy intervention to improve women’s labour market participation using secondary data. The results of this research indicate that the policy has helped improve the income, employment and decision-making power of women. Yet, the research indicates that the programme faces several structural constraints in providing employment and fails to address the long-term supply-side issue of low female labour market participation.

Gender Gap and Decline in Female Labour Force Participation in India: A Joint Search Perspective

Gender Gap and Decline in Female Labour Force Participation in India: A Joint Search Perspective

The Impacts of COVID-19 on Female Labor Force Participation in Iran

The Impacts of COVID-19 on Female Labor Force Participation in Iran

Technology Disruption and Female Labor Force Participation: A Case for Uber

Technology Disruption and Female Labor Force Participation: A Case for Uber

A Family of Norms: Related Beliefs about Female Labor Force Participation 

A Family of Norms: Related Beliefs about Female Labor Force Participation 

Social Status, Economic Development and Female Labor Force (Non) Participation

Social Status, Economic Development and Female Labor Force (Non) Participation

EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION AND FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION: THE CASE OF ECOWAS COUNTRIES

Objective: The study investigated the effect of export diversification on women’s labor force participation in ECOWAS countries. Material and Methods: We employed the ordinary least squares estimation technique then the fixed-effects model for a panel of 15 countries of ECOWAS with data ranging from 2000 to 2020, collected from the databases of the world development indicators and UNCTAD. Results: The study has indicated that export diversification in ECOWAS countries increase the female labor force participation rate. Conclusion: We recommended that the governments of ECOWAS countries should not only provide incentives to expand the export basket, but also support businesses that need a female workforce for more inclusive growth in their countries.

THE IMPACT OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS

Female self-employment can be both a way of increasing female labor force participation and diversity in entrepreneurship. While there are many studies explaining the individual characteristics causing differences in women and men choosing self-employment, studies explaining substantial variation of female entrepreneurship rate between countries are relatively few. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the socio-cultural, legal and economic conditions of the countries that can lead female entrepreneurship rates vary by using World Bank data on 112 countries and dynamic panel data model. Results based on the estimation of this model denotes the importance of legal framework in terms of increasing female entrepreneurship rates alongside the determinants previously searched. The countries reaching closer to legal equality between women and men in terms of business opportunities have higher share of female entrepreneurs.

A comparative analysis of gender diversity in labour participation and growth in Sub-Saharan African countries

In recent years, official statistics on female labour supply in several emerging nations have shown that female labour force participation rates are dropping. Although development organisations have created and implemented non-contextual empowerment initiatives, some of which have improved women's lives, a desirable outcome has not been achieved. A comparative analysis of gender diversity in labour economic participation and growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was conducted. The study uses pooled least squares, fixed effects, random effects, difference generalised method of moments, and system-generalised method of moments models. Likewise, three models are estimated in the study for disaggregated male and female economic participation factors, respectively, while the third is for aggregate economic participation. In addition, causality was investigated using the panel vector correction model. The findings show that the indicators of human capital and labour economic participation are positive and significant in all three models. However, male human capital and labour economic participation contribute to productivity growth more than aggregate indicators. Also, the female indicators are the lowest contributing factor to growth. Also, the institutional quality is significant in aggregate and male labour economic participation but insignificant in female labour economic participation. The causality result shows one-way causality from female human capital to productivity growth. The study suggests, among others, the need to develop a financing mechanism to expand women-focused human capital interventions in SSA.

Does the Ability to Work Remotely Alter Labor Force Attachment? An Analysis of Female Labor Force Participation

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large share of the employed switched to remote work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)'s Current Population Survey (CPS), almost 40 percent of workers were working remotely in May 2020 because of the pandemic (figure 1, purple line), adding to the evidence from other individual- and firm-level surveys.

Gender Economics: The Underrepresentation of Females in the Labor Force

In this paper, I study female labor force participation and consider potential threats and obstacles women face that may inhibit their participation in the labor force. This ultimately serves as the culprit and driving force for the underrepresentation of females in the labor force. My project presents the numerous factors that cause lower female labor participation, the possible benefits of increasing it, and potential solutions to overcome this economic disparity. I will analyze statistics from the World Bank by creating infographics such as scatterplots. In addition, I conduct literature reviews which serve as my main source of information.

The Determinants of Female Labor Force Participation Rate in Asian Economies

The Determinants of Female Labor Force Participation Rate in Asian Economies

Impact of Safe Domestic Water Source on Female Labor Force Participation Rates and Female Literacy Rates in India

Impact of Safe Domestic Water Source on Female Labor Force Participation Rates and Female Literacy Rates in India

Panel Analysis of Female Labor Force Participation and Income Distribution in 136 Countries

Panel Analysis of Female Labor Force Participation and Income Distribution in 136 Countries

Unveiling the Gap: Exploring Gender Inequality in Economic Empowerment Across India

Gender inequality in economic empowerment remains a pervasive issue across the globe, manifesting in various forms such as unequal pay, limited access to economic resources, and disparities in employment opportunities and career advancement. This systemic imbalance stifles not only individual potential but also hampers overall economic growth and development. While this inequality exists universally, it is particularly pronounced in Indian society, rooted in deeply embedded cultural norms and historical gender roles. Traditionally, women's subordinate position has deprived them of asset ownership and participation in financial decision-making. Additionally, they have been denied employment opportunities and face discrimination in the labor market. These factors have led to a significant gender gap in economic participation at both household and societal levels. In this context, this study attempts to examine the gender inequality in economic empowerment in India through the lens of asset ownership, wage disparity, and labor force participation. This study is based on secondary data taken from the reports of the National Family Health Survey and the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the Government of India. The study found that, the female labour force participation rate was 46.2 per cent less than the male labour force participation rate and on an average, women earned Rs. 136.32 less than men in daily wage earnings. The study concludes that addressing gender inequality in economic empowerment requires a comprehensive approach at the policy, organizational, and societal level, including implementing and enforcing gender-sensitive labor laws, promoting equal pay for equal work, and providing affordable childcare and parental leave to level the playing field.

What Works For Her? How Work-from-Home Jobs Affect Female Labor Force Participation in Urban India

What Works For Her? How Work-from-Home Jobs Affect Female Labor Force Participation in Urban India

Nexus between Labour Force Participation, Decent Work and Economic Growth in Nigeria

This work investigated the impact of labour force participation on economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1990 to 2021 using annual time series data on real gross domestic product (RGDP), male labour force participation rate (MLFPR) and female labour force participation rate (FLFPR). The objectives are to examine the impact of male labour force participation rate (MLFPR) and female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) on economic growth in Nigeria and to ascertain the causality relationship between male labour force participation rate, female labour force participation rate, and economic growth in Nigeria using ARDL Bounds Testing methodology. The result indicated that male labour force participation rate (MLFPR) and female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) had statistically significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria in the short run. The result also revealed that, in the long run, male labour force participation rate (MLFPR) and female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) had statistically insignificant impact on economic growth in Nigeria. A uni-directional causality relationship is found between male labour force participation rate (MLFPR) and economic growth (RGDP) in Nigeria over the period covered with the causality running from economic growth to male labour force participation rate. The result further indicated that there is no significant causality relationship between female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) and economic growth in Nigeria over the period covered. The study therefore recommended that government should design active policy for male and female participation in labour force and seriously empower women to participate in labour force in Nigeria.

Does Declining Female Labour Force Participation Result in Fewer Gender Gaps?

South Asia has the second highest gender gap in8 major regions in the world. The highest gender gaps are for economic participation and political empowerment. Economic participation and opportunities grow as more women pursue professional and technical education. The over-all gender gap has marginally declined from 54.08 in 1998 to 50.8 in 2021. This indicate that the progress has been remarkably slow in terms of female labour force participation, with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives on the lowest side. While South Asia is the fastest-growing region globally, the female labour force participation rate is only 23.6% versus 80% for men. There is a significant negative relationship between the two variables. With every increase in per capita income level in South Asia, labour force participation shows an inverted U relationship. This contradicts the empirical estimations in the literature showing a U shape relationship. The main finding is that gender gaps in employment, job characteristics, and working conditions are growing as per capita incomes rise. Further, per capita, income growth speeds up the reduction process of gender inequality and gender gaps. This again confirms the proposition that labour force participation does not directly lead to reduction in gender gaps. Reduction in gender gaps does lead to increased labour force participation. Effective implementation of gender-centric policies, creating a level playing field for women, accelerates the process of gender balanced opportunities and outcomes. Technological interventions cannot act as a substitute for policy interventions.

The Implication of Mothers’ Full-Time Labour Force Participation on Early Childcare and Outcome: A Case Study of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

In the last two decades, in Tanzania, female labour force participation outside the home has grown significantly along with their male counterparts challenging the traditional view that women are reproducers and producers in the home-based economy. Full-time employment leads to higher levels of self-esteem, autonomy, and independence, which may influence sensitivity in caregiving. Many mothers also participate in multiple roles which might limit exclusive time for childcare necessary for the development of healthy children. Qualitative methods were used to collect data both from workplaces and homes. Purposive sampling was utilized to identify 42 full-time working mothers with children under the age of five. In-depth interviews, non-participant observation and documentary reviews were used to gather data which was then analysed thematically. The findings indicate that employment imbues women self-esteem, autonomy and independence which improve sensitivity. Children gain from improved nutrition, health services, and access to better secondary care services. However, balancing family demands was difficult, and this affected the nature of maternal care of children. Work-family conflict demands were the main source of stress in mothers, which was detrimental on children's wellbeing. The study recommends that families should devise mechanisms for investing quality time with children, and develop crèches for early childcare in order to mitigate the rising challenges of working and raising healthy and secure children in an urban setting.