Does Female Labor Force Participation Lead to Male Unemployment?

In this study, the causality relationship between the female labor force participation rate and the male unemployment rate was analyzed using the panel data from 26 Level 2 regions in Turkey for the period 2004–2024. The data set was obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), and the analyses were performed using the EViews 10 program. The stationarity levels of the variables were examined with the LLC, IPS, ADF-Fisher, and PP-Fisher unit root tests, and it was determined that the series were stationary at the level. The lag length was determined with information criteria such as LR, AIC, SC, and HQ, and the VAR(5) model was established with the suggestions of most criteria. The Toda-Yamamoto approach was applied to test the causality relationship, and according to the results obtained, the female labor force participation rate Granger-causes the male unemployment rate; however, there is no significant relationship in the opposite direction. Although this finding shows that increases in women's labor force participation may create short-term pressures on men's employment, it also reveals that policies aimed at reducing gender inequality should be continued. The study offers suggestions for expanding social policies that support women's participation in employment and eliminating gender-based segregation in the labor market.