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Climate shocks and labor market in sub-Saharan Africa: effects on gender disparities in urban and rural areas

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  • Sadou Diallo

    (Pan African University)

  • Henri Atangana Ondoa

    (University of Yaoundé II)

Abstract

Gender disparities in terms of opportunities, security and labor force participation still persist in sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, over 60% of the workforce is employed in agriculture and 96% of cultivated land is rainfed. Climate change may, in this context, reinforce these inequalities. Using country-level aggregate household survey data, we examined the effects of climate change on gender inequalities in the labor market. The results indicate that temperature change increases the probability of labor force participation for women and reduces the probability for men in urban areas. Similarly, the temperature shock increases the probability of participation in unpaid work for both women and men. In contrast, rainfall shocks reduce the probability of participation in paid work in rural areas. The analysis reveals, taking into account the nature of the climate shock, differentiated effects on women and men. These results highlight the gendered impact of climate change on the labor market.

Suggested Citation

  • Sadou Diallo & Henri Atangana Ondoa, 2025. "Climate shocks and labor market in sub-Saharan Africa: effects on gender disparities in urban and rural areas," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 27(1), pages 203-225, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jsecdv:v:27:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s40847-024-00331-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s40847-024-00331-x
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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