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Low Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan: Causes and Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Zubaria Andlib

    (Ph.D Scholar, School of Economics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.)

  • Aliya H Khan

    (Prof. (R), School of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.)

Abstract

Pakistan has the lowest Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) rate in the South Asian region. The study has used the latest round of Labor Force Survey 2014-15 and analyzed the individual and household factors that are associated with low FLFP in Pakistan. This study finds that there is less probability for urban women to take part in labor force activities. At national and regional level higher secondary and above levels of education have positive and significant relationship with FLFP whereas the situation is different for the four provinces of Pakistan. In case of Punjab province graduation and above levels of education are positively affiliated with FLFP, in Sind province higher secondary and above levels of education are positively associated with FLFP, in KPK province, matric and above levels of education are positively influencing FLFP decisions and in Baluchistan province primary and above levels of education are positively influencing women's decisions to participate in labor force activities. Women living in joint family systems, non-migrated, recipient of technical or vocational trainings are also more likely to participate in labor force activities. The study provides useful insights for policy makers to formulate appropriate policies to increase FLFP rate in Pakistan.

Suggested Citation

  • Zubaria Andlib & Aliya H Khan, 2018. "Low Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan: Causes and Factors," Global Social Sciences Review, Humanity Only, vol. 3(3), pages 237-264, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gss:journl:v:3:y:2018:i:3:p:237-264
    DOI: 10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).14
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Muhammad Zaheer Khan & Rusmawati Said & Nur Syazwani Mazlan & Norashidah Mohamed Nor, 2023. "Measuring the occupational segregation of males and females in Pakistan in a multigroup context," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Nuray Akar & Tayfun Yörük & Ömür Tosun, 2024. "Predicting women’s career decisiveness in the ICT sector: A serial multiple mediation model among MIS students," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(12), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Andlib, Zubaria, 2025. "Breaking Barriers or Reinforcing Gaps? Gender Wage Disparities Across Skill Levels in a Developing Economy," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1555 [rev.], Global Labor Organization (GLO), revised 2025.
    8. Lingjun Guo & Wenyu Tan, 2024. "Relationship between green credit and high-quality development of green and green economy—"pull effect" or "capricorn effect"," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 26449-26473, October.

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    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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