Male Participation Rates Research Articles

A multiple time-series analysis of labor supply and earnings in economic development

Using multivariate time-series techniques, the dynamics of male and female labor supply and earnings in Puerto Rico are examined during a period of rapid economic developemnt, 1953–1978. The temporal analysis suggests that aggregate male and female labor force participation rates are exogenous to male and female earnings. In addition, continous declines in male participation have been partly responsible for increases in both male and female earnings and a narrowing of relative earnings differentials. The study also finds that the advent of the Food Stamp Program in 1975 has resulted in a small reduction in male labor force participation. Moreover, the inclusion of food stamps as an intervention component is quite useful in forecasting the male participation rate. The forecasting accuracy of univariate and multivariate models is assessed with the result that, in every instance, the multivariate transfer functions prove superior. Overall, the results support the incorporation of multiple time-series in econometric studies of developing countries and provide evidence of its usefullness for development planning and policy.

Today's girls in tomorrow's labor force: projecting their participation and occupations.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate dramatic changes in female employment over the last 25 years. In July 1984, 44% of all American workers were women, compared with 30% in 1950. The proportion of women in the labor force rose from 34% in 1950 to 54% in 1984; male participation rate during the same period dropped from 86% to 78%. Between 1950 and 1977, the worklife expectancy of a 20-year-old woman jumped from 14.5 years to 26 years, while that of men declined from 41.4 years to 36.8 years. The greatest changes in female participation in the labor force occurred among women from 25 to 34 years old. In 1970, only 45% of this age group participated in the labor force; a moderate growth scenario projects that 80% of this group will be in the labor force in 1995. Gains for women in terms of higher paying employment and earnings have not been as rapid. Most women are still employed in low-paying occupations traditionally identified with women. While 20% of managerial and professional jobs are now occupied by women, more than 42.5% of all working women are employed in traditionally low-paying sales or clerical and administrative support occupations. Women are 2.5 to 3 times more likely than men to work part-time. The ratio of women's full-time median weekly earnings to men's stood at 66% in 1983, reflecting only a small gain over 62% in 1973. Occupational projections indicate that service-producing industries will account for 75% of all new jobs before 1995. Manufacturing industries will account for another 17%. Opportunities for women are open in these areas, but employment and salaries will depend on such factors as experience, ability, region, firm or industry, hours worked, and unionization.

Typology of Countries by Labor Force Participation Patterns

Comparative studies on labor force participation patterns between developed and underdeveloped countries could not be conducted on a large scale until recently because of a lack of data from underdeveloped countries. Most of the comparative studies done covered the field only partially from several points of view.1 A general overview of all the countries that have collected data on age-sex specific participation rates can be found only in the UN publication of 1962 which analyzes the results of male and female age-specific participation rates in the 1950 censuses.2 The substantive aim of the present study is an attempt to construct a classification system using the published data on the labor force participation patterns of various countries. From the methodological point of view, the aim is to point out some of the deficiencies of the data for comparative studies and to demonstrate the preference of a nonmetric multivariate method for such deficient data.

Labour Force Participation Rates in the London Metropolitan Region

This paper considers the factors which account for the variation in the proportion of males and females of working age who are economically active for the different boroughs in the London Metropolitan region. A multipleregression analysis was carried out using the Census of Population data for 1951 and 1961. The results for males are less interesting and of less economic significance than those for females. The male participation rate shows very little variation and seems to be influenced by only two variables, namely, the social class composition of the borough and the proportion of institution inmates resident in the borough. The situation for females is more complicated. The female participation rate exhibits more variability and several explanatory variables emerge as important. However, the key variable is the availability of local employment for females. The central position of this variable has direct economffic significance in two important respects. The first of these arises when considering the problem of increasing the total labour force in the area. Secondly, a study of the residuals from the regression equations shows that some parts of the London region are noticeably deficient in female employment while the converse is true in other parts.