Migration, Education and the Gender Gap in Labour Force Participation

Women who want to work often face many more hurdles than men. This is true in Tajikistan, where there is a large gender gap in labour force participation (LFP). We highlight the effects of two factors – international migration and education – on the LFP decision and its gender gap. Using probit and decomposition analysis, our investigation shows that education and migration have a significant association with the gender gap in LFP in Tajikistan. International emigration from Tajikistan, in which approximately 93.5 per cent of the participants are men, reduces LFP by men domestically; increased female education, especially at the university and vocational level, increases female participation. Both women acquiring greater access to education and men increasing their migration abroad contribute to reducing the gender gap.