Factors Affecting Women’s Participation in Namibia’s Workforce: Evidence from the 2009/10 Namibia Households Incomes and Expenditure Survey

Abstract

This study examines factors that influence the labour force participation of women in Namibia. The objectives are to (1) examine the rates of employment among women in Namibia; (2) compare patterns of employment and unemployment across women and men taking into account and type of work and industry; (3) gain insights into factors (marital status, age, residence, education) that promote or hinder women from work. The rationale is that identifying factors affecting women's participation in Namibia's workforcemay provide insight for practitioners and policy makers on how best to support women to either continue in employment or get engaged with work, thereby achieving Namibia's goal of gender equality. This study utilizes data from the Namibia Households Incomes and Expenditure Survey of 2009/2010. The results indicate Namibian women are increasingly entering the labour force as a result of post-independence policies that emphasize greater gender equality. Still women lag behind men in many aspects of labour force participation. Age, education level, and place of residence (urban residence) are predictors of labor force participation rates of women. Marital status seems to be more a predictor of men's than of women's paid employment. We conclude that increases in women's education in particular may prove useful in increasing women's employment in Namibia. Policies should target women's education.