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Gender and vulnerable employment in the developing world: Evidence from global microdata

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  • Maria C. Lo Bue
  • Tu Thi Ngoc Le
  • Manuel Santos Silva
  • Kunal Sen

Abstract

This paper investigates gender inequality in vulnerable employment: forms of employment typically featuring high precariousness, inadequate earnings, and lack of decent working conditions. Using a large collection of harmonized household surveys from developing countries, we measure long-term trends, describe geographical patterns, and estimate correlates of gender inequalities in vulnerable employment. Conditional on individual and household characteristics, women are 7 percentage points more likely to be in vulnerable employment than men.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria C. Lo Bue & Tu Thi Ngoc Le & Manuel Santos Silva & Kunal Sen, 2021. "Gender and vulnerable employment in the developing world: Evidence from global microdata," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-154, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-154
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    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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