female labour force participation

The US has imposed a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi garment exports, a sector that employs more than 4 million people. Rigorous evidence shows that export-led manufacturing in Bangladesh has boosted female labour force participation, increased girls education and delayed marriage. This trade shock could reverse decades of economic and welfare gains for Bangladeshi women and girls.

A lack of safe transportation prevents women in urban Pakistan from entering the labour market. A programme providing subsidised, women-only transport was able to tap into a large pool of female workers, improving mobility and economic empowerment.

A governmental employment-guarantee programme designed to provide economic security to rural households in India has unintentionally reduced women’s labour force participation—deepening gender disparities within households. By guaranteeing employment...

New technologies in Brazil increased agricultural productivity, but also reduced economic opportunities for women and increased fertility rates.

Workplace discrimination by customers directly, and negatively, impacts women’s outcomes in the service industry in sub-Saharan Africa.

What are the barriers to women’s labour force participation in Bangladesh? What are some promising evidence-based policy options? Where is more evidence required?

New export opportunities led to a rise in hiring of female white-collar workers through changes in the use of technology and a correction of discrimination amongst Chilean firms.

Flexible work arrangements can both attract women to the labour force and provide a gateway to outside-the-home jobs. In India, where gender norms keep women out of the labour force, home-based jobs may represent the most immediate path to increase women’s labour force participation.