While the number of women in the workforce is increasing in many countries, Egypt is lagging behind, creating major obstacles to economic growth and gender equality.
However, it is important to note that this issue is not unique to Egypt. Women’s labor force participation rates are lower than expected in some states in South Asia and MENA.
In Egypt, India and Turkey, women appear to be joining the labor force at much lower rates than would be expected given their individual income levels, according to the World Bank’s Middle Income Trap report.
On the other hand, high rates of female labor force participation in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia suggest that cultural and social norms may have a greater impact on female labor force participation than economic status alone. I am.
The report further notes that even where women are employed in the North African country, they are disproportionately represented in low-wage or informal employment, and may also work as self-employed workers with variable incomes. It emphasizes that.
They are much less likely than men to hold professional, managerial, or technical jobs that offer greater stability and better pay.
Possibility of marriage in education
Interestingly, in Egypt, the returns to higher education appear to be stronger in the marriage market than in the labor market.
Although a woman’s educational background often increases her chances of marriage, the same educational attainment does not increase her career chances at the same rate as a man’s.
“Some middle-income countries educate relatively more women in STEM fields than high-income countries, but employ relatively fewer women.
“Why do women pursue STEM fields but not work in them? Recent evidence suggests the potential for increased returns from STEM education in the marriage market,” the report says. Masu.
“In Pakistan, women doctors are considered ‘trophy brides’ in the marriage market.More than 70% of medical graduates in Pakistan are women, but only 23% of them enter the profession after graduation.
Similarly, in Egypt, the returns to higher education, not just STEM fields, are much higher in the marriage market than in the labor market.”
One notable feature of the Egyptian labor market is the disparity between women’s education and job performance.
Despite the increasing number of women pursuing higher education degrees, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), many are unable to find suitable employment prospects.
This points to a serious misallocation of human resources, with highly educated women being underemployed or forced into industries that do not match their abilities.
