Female Labor Force Participation Research Articles

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

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.

Relationship between Soil Texture, Demographic Deficit of Women and Women's Employment in Agriculture: A Further Research

This study aims to replicate the findings of Carranza (2014) and expand on them by examining how soil texture relates to female labor force participation and gender inequities in India's agriculture industry, while also considering regional variations. This study utilizes cross-sectional data from 577 districts to establish that soil endowments, namely loamy and clay soil fractions, have a substantial and favorable impact on the female-to-male ratio in the age bracket of 0 to 9, as well as on women's involvement in agricultural employment. Examination of regional subgroups demonstrates a notable impact of clay soil on the ratio of females to males in the North and Northeast regions, whereas no such influence is shown in the South region. The results of this study emphasize the importance of environmental resources in comprehending gender inequalities in workforce engagement and support the implementation of policies that consider regional soil resources. This study proposes the need for further multidisciplinary research and collaboration, along with region-specific interventions, soil conservation measures, and educational initiatives, to effectively tackle these gaps and advance gender equality in India's agricultural industry.

Female Labor Force Participation and Uganda’s Economic Growth

This comprehensive study explores the impact of various female labor force participation indicators on Uganda's economic growth, encompassing participation rate, educational levels, and fertility rate while considering confounding factors like capital formation and inflation. Utilizing a quantitative approach and a causal relationship research design, the study employs the ARDL (3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2) model on quarterly data from 1990 to 2021. Results reveal a significant adverse short-term causal impact of the female labor force participation rate on economic growth, with no such effect in the long term. The educational levels and fertility rate exhibit statistically insignificant impacts in both short and long terms. The findings suggest a prevailing trend of female labor contributing predominantly to labor-intensive agriculture and the informal economy, without a noticeable shift to more lucrative sectors over the long run. Additionally, the study underscores the potential for short-term economic growth through birth control measures and policies enhancing physical capital stocks, contributing to our understanding of Uganda's economic progress within the neoclassical and U-shape development frameworks.

The Moderating Role of Education in the Effect of Democracy on Female Labor Force Participation: Panel Data Analysis

Eğitim gibi temel ihtiyaçlarını karşılayamayan kadınlar, demokratik gelişmelerden yararlanmada zorluklar çekmektedir. Bu çalışma, 2002-2018 dönemi boyunca gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan 165 ülkede demokrasinin kadınların iş gücüne katılımı üzerindeki etkisinde eğitimin aracılık rolünü incelemektedir. Bu amaçla Driscoll-Kraay tahmincisi kullanılarak sabit etkiler modeli uygulanmıştır. Modelde, istihdamda cinsiyet eşitsizliğini temsil eden kadın bölü erkek iş gücüne katılma oranı bağımlı değişkendir. Bu değişken, kadınların demokratik düzenlemelerden erkeklere göre daha fazla yararlanıp yararlanmadığını göstermesi açısından önemlidir. Ek olarak model, demokrasi düzeyi ile eğitim endeksi arasında bir etkileşim terimine sahiptir. Bu etkileşim terimi, demokrasinin kadınların iş gücüne katılımı üzerindeki etkisini artırmak için eğitim endeksinin hangi eşik düzeyinin uygun olduğunu anlamaya yardımcı olmaktadır. Çalışmanın temel sonucuna göre demokrasinin kadın bölü erkek iş gücüne katılma oranı üzerindeki etkisinde eğitimin aracılık rolü vardır. Eğer eğitim endeksi eşik değeri (0.64) aşarsa, demokrasi kadınların iş gücüne katılımını pozitif etkilemektedir. Bu bulgudan hareketle politika yapıcılar, iş gücüne katılımda cinsiyet eşitliği için demokratikleşme politikalarını geliştirirken eğitim altyapısına yönelik yatırımlara odaklanmalıdır.

The African Continental Free Trade Area and Financial Development for Female Labour Force Participation in Africa

The study assesses how financial development dynamics can moderate the incidence of African trade integration on female labour force participation. The focus is on 47 African countries for the period 1995 to 2019 and the empirical evidence is based on Fixed Effects regressions. The findings show that financial development moderates African trade integration to engender an overall positive effect on female labour force participation. Moreover, financial depth proxied by liquid liabilities should reach a threshold of approximately 14.304 (% of GDP) in order to completely dampen an initial negative incidence of intra-African trade integration on female labor force participation. It follows that financial development becomes a necessary and sufficient condition to moderate intra-African trade integration in order to positively affect female labor force participation only when the established threshold of financial depth is attained. Other policy implications are discussed.

Exploring cross-country heterogeneity in the relation between female labor force participation and fertility in Latin America

In Latin America, despite an apparent convergence on the relation between female labor force participation (FLFP) and total fertility rates (TFR), there are differences between and within countries that must be considered. This paper aimed to understand the heterogeneity in the relation between the FLFP rate and the TFR in Latin American from 1990 to 2018 in order to identify cross-country patterns. Using World Bank data for the 20 countries in Latin America, clustering longitudinal data was performed, and mixed-effect models were fitted to quantify the heterogeneity. Three patterns of relationship were observed in Latin American countries: low TFR and intermediate FLFP, high TFR and high FLFP, and high TFR and low FLFP. The heterogeneity identified suggests the diversity of socio-economic and cultural factors influences the dynamics of the relation between FLFP and TFR in Latin America.

Pollution, governance, and women's work: Examining African female labour force participation in the face of environmental pollution and governance quality puzzles

In a rapidly changing world marked by environmental degradation and governance disparities, understanding their impact on African women's participation in the labour force remains a critical puzzle. This research seeks to unveil the intricate connections between pollution, governance quality, and women's economic engagement in Africa, shedding light on vital pathways to empower women, mitigate pollution's impact, and drive sustainable development in the region. Specifically, this study evaluates the impacts of governance quality and environmental pollution on gender economic outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using data from 28 nations spanning 1996 to 2020. The study employs the dynamic panel threshold model. The key results reveal a negative and significant influence of ecological footprint on female economic participation. Furthermore, the dynamic threshold analysis reveals that environmental degradation undermines female labour engagement irrespective of the threshold level. The study also showed that below the threshold level, the interaction between governance quality variables and the ecological footprint exacerbates the negative impact of the ecological footprint on women's economic participation. Above the threshold level, the interaction between governance quality variables and the ecological footprint mitigates the negative impact. Overall, key recommendations like improved pollution control measures, inclusive governance, and effecting targeted policies and programs to empower women economically, among others, are proffered to contribute to the improvement in governance, environmental sustainability, and gender economic outcomes in SSA.

Literate & Technical Female Labour Force Participation in Pakistan’s Economic Change

This study examines the relationship among “female labour force participation”, “technical education”, and “economic growth” in Pakistan. As we know, there is more prosperity when skilled females become part of the economy. The authors assessed the secondary data sources from 2001-2020 and applied various diagnostics based on the theoretical background and research methodologies. Specifically, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag is applied for analysis as per the nature of the data. This study provides insight into how increasing the “female labour force participation rate” with “technical education” spurs “economic growth” in Pakistan. The empirical results show that technical education, female labor force participation rate, male labor force participation rate, and gross fixed capital formation positively influence economic growth. Only the inflation rate and exchange rate hurt economic growth. This study aims to guide policymakers, educators, and economic stakeholders towards measures to maximize the benefits of increased “female labour force participation” and improved technical education in Pakistan. Its results are giving more deep understanding of some critical aspects of women’s employment and empowerment and provide more practical ideas for prosperous future of Pakistan. However, the study has some limitations like constraints in resources, time and specific targeted data.

The Recent Drop in Female Labour-Force Participation in Jammu and Kashmir

The J&K economy will not reach its full potential unless the government and employers remove barriers to women's full labour-force participation in the labour market. Failure to address structural labor market issues, employment policy does more than limit women's career opportunities and aspirations for a better life. In Jammu and Kashmir context overall labor force participation is reported to be considerably low and has been on consistent decline. It has decreased by 7% from 62.09% in 1999-00 to 55.68% in 2017-18. The overall decline in labor force has been mainly attributed to the sharp decline in female labor force participation rate, which has registered almost 8% decline from 39.86% to 31.61% during 1999-00 to 2017-18. This decline is puzzling some and against the gender development goals like inclusive development, women empowerment etc. Women's participation barriers also act as brakes on the national economy, stifling growth. By adopting gender friendly policies and removing barriers to women's participation we can narrow down gender gap in participation and achieve stronger economic growth

Female Labor Force Participation in SAARC and SADC Countries: Understanding the Impact of Access to Clean Fuels and Technologies and Access to Electricity

Female Labor Force Participation in SAARC and SADC Countries: Understanding the Impact of Access to Clean Fuels and Technologies and Access to Electricity