female labour force participation

Managing menstrual hygiene: The economics of period poverty

Improving menstrual hygiene in low-income settings requires more than just access to products—it demands tackling stigma and restrictive social norms that threaten women's health and economic opportunity.

Health

Silvia Castro Kristina Czura

Published

23.07.25

Boosting women’s labour force participation in China: Current state and challenges

While the female labour force participation rate in China is currently above the global average, it has declined in recent decades, and women still face numerous structural challenges in the labour market. What are these barriers, and how can policy ...

Labour Markets

Xianghong Wang

Published

16.06.25

Why do so few married women work in Egypt? Testing for discrimination

An experiment in Egypt tested for employment discrimination by sex and marital status, and found no sizeable discrimination against married women.

Labour Markets

Caroline Krafft

Published

03.06.25

Women working in export processing zone in Nicaragua

How low-wage manufacturing employment for women changed household dynamics in Nicaragua

When new manufacturing sectors emerge in developing countries, a significant share of the workforce is often comprised of women, many of whom previously lacked access to non-agricultural employment. Such employment can have important consequences for...

Labour Markets

Louise Grogan

Published

23.05.25

US tariffs on Bangladesh threaten decades of economic and social progress

The US has imposed a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi garment exports, a sector that employs more than 4 million people. Rigorous evidence shows that export-led manufacturing in Bangladesh has boosted female labour force participation, increased girls educa...

Trade

Susannah Hares

Published

Fri, 04/04/2025 - 12:00

How safe transport could unlock women’s labour force participation in Pakistan

A lack of safe transportation prevents women in urban Pakistan from entering the labour market. A programme providing subsidised, women-only transport was able to tap into a large pool of female workers, improving mobility and economic empowerment.

Infrastructure

Kate Vyborny

Published

27.03.25

Guaranteed employment in India actually reduced female labour force participation

A governmental employment-guarantee programme designed to provide economic security to rural households in India has unintentionally reduced women’s labour force participation—deepening gender disparities within households. By guaranteeing employment...

Labour Markets

Jorge Luis García

Published

09.04.25