Behind the Curtain: Cultural Norms, Gender Stereotypes and Work Attitudes Shaping Women’s Labour-Market Inactivity in North Macedonia

This exploratory study investigates women’s labor market inactivity in North Macedonia, positioned among the countries with the lowest labor force participation rate of 42.8%. Utilizing the 2019 European Values Survey, the study moves beyond traditional employment data to assess the broader social and cultural context that shapes labor market participation. A comprehensive two-part methodology includes Factor Analysis and Principal Components Analysis to identify key drivers of inactivity, which are then factored in a probit model to estimate inactivity probabilities. Findings reveal four critical factors. Gender stereotypes significantly increase women’s likelihood of being inactive, as traditional roles limit their participation in the workforce. Work attitudes, reflecting individuals’ views on employment, also play a critical role, with negative attitudes leading to higher inactivity. Norms surrounding household chores further constrain women’s labor market participation. Finally, cultural norms related to childcare responsibilities impact women’s ability to engage in paid work, although this influence is intertwined with broader gender expectations and their impact is secondary to the actual time allocation for childcare determined by the number of children. These factors, rather than purely demographic characteristics, illustrate the complex interplay between cultural expectations and labor market dynamics, highlighting the importance of addressing societal values to promote women’s economic participation in North Macedonia.