Female labour force participation in Ghana: The effects of education
Paper No. RP_150 |
By Harry A. Sackey |
Category: Research Papers | September 2005 | English
To participate in the labour market or not to participate appears to be an
issue of survival for women in the Ghanaian economy. Parallel to the rising
trend in female participation rates, there has been a tendency towards a decline
in fertility. At the core of these patterns has been the schooling factor. This
study uses data from the Ghana living standards surveys with demographically
enriched information to estimate female labour force participation and fertility
models. We find that female schooling matters in both urban and rural localities;
both primary and post-primary schooling levels exert significant positive impact
on women’s labour market participation, and have an opposite effect on
fertility. We conclude that although the gender gap in education has become
narrower over the years, it is important for government policy to ensure the
sustainability of the female educational gains obtained. Arguably, this is the
key mechanism for enhancing female human capital and productive employment with
favourable impacts on perceptions of ideal family size and fertility preferences.