Female labor allocation: An investigation of recent Egyptian employment trends

Structural transformation and economic liberalization have been on the Egyptian policy agenda for over 20 years. However, the results have been mixed. Macroeconomic imbalances have been manageable in Egypt. Microeconomic distortion have been persistent, mainly lack of employment creation and occupational diversity for female workers. This dissertation examines the impact of economic liberalization and Egypt's insertion into global economy on the labor force participation of women. In this dissertation, we introduce comprehensive analysis of employment trends in the Egyptian labor market. Using panel data for early 1980s and early 1990s, we analyzed the relationship between macroeconomic changes associated with structural adjustment programs, long term development, level of sectoral and regional demand, demographic indicators, and Female Labor Participation Rates (FLPR). The analytical results show the gender specific impacts of macroeconomic changes and identifies the driving forces behind higher female employment. Contrary to the findings of other scholars, this research finds that the structural adjustment polices of the Egyptian government have not increase the entry of women into export-oriented manufacturing sector. On the other hand, the international migration of male workers has led to increase women's participation in agriculture activities. Labor supply shortages, as more males migrate, increased the demand for female workers as a substitute. While the rise in female-headed households increased the supply of female workers in order to provide for their families. Women in urban sectors with educational credentials have found less well as setbacks in government spending have raised unemployment rates and increased job queues. The formal private sectors, on the other hand, show no signs of integrating women. This research indicates that a fuller understanding of the gender implication of economic restructuring requires the researchers to pay close attention to specific labor market structure.