An Assessement of Factors Affecting the Labor Force Participation of Married Women in Ethiopia
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Date
2008
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Different rep0l1s and data in many disciplines show women are disadvantaged in terms of
labor force participation in both the fOll11al and the infOll11al economy of Ethiopia. The
primary focus of this paper is to examine the factors which deterl11ine the participation of
Ethiopian women in the labor force. The study is based on the Ethiopian Demograpbic and
Health Survey (EDHS) data conducted in 2005 by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA)
and tbe American organization ORC Macro. Multiple logistic regression model is used to
assess the combined effect of the selected factors on labor force participation of Ethiopian
women. The findings of the study indicate tbat women who live in urban areas of Ethiopia
have a better chance of participation in the labor force than those who live in the rural
areas. Migration has negative effect on the participation of women in the labor force.
Women living in Afar, Somali, Harar, Benshangul-Gumuz and Oromia regions show less
participation in the labor force. Education of a woman above high school level and that of
her husband with primary level have positive impacts on her participation in labor force
whereas pregnancy and breast feed ing have negative effects. The impact of using
contraceptive methods on the participation of Ethiopian women in the labor force is
positive and as there are more children under the age of five and more members in a
household, the participation of women in the labor force decreases. The length of duration
in a place and the labor force status of a husband are also important vari ables in predicting
the participation of Ethiopian women in the labor force.