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GENDER

EMPLOYMENT

AND

SW9

What

What Is It?

BENCHMARK

Male and female labor force participation rates

Promote

Promote a gradual increase in the

(LFPR) constitute an important indicator of gender

female labor force participation rate in

roles within households and communities. One sign

the

the MAR region of each country.

of economic development is the overall participation

of working-age individuals in the workforce.  Low

TA R G E T

levels of economic participation are an indicator of

an underutilized workforce and a population that is

Increase

Increase the overall LFPRs in Honduras

likely under economic stress. It is also important to

and Guatemala to 50%. View a notable

compare workforce participation by gender--that is,

increase in female LFPRs in the MAR

the relative levels of men of working age and women

region of each country.

of working age that participate the workforce. In more

traditional societies, women normally display low levels

RED FL AG

of workforce participation in comparison to males as

their roles are relegated to household activities. In

Any decrease in overall and female

contrast, modern economic development is usually

LFPRs

LFPRs at the municipal or country level.

characterized by the rapid incorporation of women

into the workforce. This is often accompanied by

shifts in gender roles within households and societies

status within the family and communities vis-à-vis

that change the relative status of women as decision-

male members are often enhanced and they become

makers within households and communities.

more active participants in family and community

Why Do We Measure It?

Why

decision-making. In many parts of the MAR region,

women are increasingly visible in the workplace as

In the MAR region, new opportunities in the workforce

professionals and in leadership roles in government

have increased more dramatically for women than men,

departments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

especially in areas where tourism development has

and community-based organizations. Throughout the

taken place. For example, in Hopkins and Placencia,

world, the increased participation of women in the

Belize, census data indicate that tourism development

labor force is also strongly correlated to a decrease

has brought a rapid increase in the participation of

in total fertility rates (TFRs). A decrease in TFRs will

women in the workforce and a dramatic decline in

reduce the potential pressure on MAR resources in

`home duties'28. Similarly, a recent study carried out

the future from natural population increases.

in the community of Punta Allen, Mexico, indicates

How Do We Measure It?

that tourism has brought an increase in the numbers

of women who are small business owners, members

The overall labor force participation rate represents

of tourism cooperatives, owners of boats and salaried

the percentage of the working-age population in a

workers -- and that women are now earning as much

specified area that is economically active. Similarly,

as or more than males from tourism activities29.

male and female labor force participation rates

represent economically active males as a percentage

Traditionally  low  levels  of  female  workforce

of the total working-age male population and

participation in comparison to men probably (but do not

economically active females as a percentage of the

necessarily) indicate high degrees of gender inequality

working-age female population. Official cut-off ages

within households and communities. Furthermore,

for the working-age population are based on national

as their labor force participation increases, women

standards (age of 7 and over in Honduras and

may take on an increased burden as they assume

Guatemala, 12 and over in Mexico, and 14 and over

responsibilities as income earners in addition to

in Belize). "Economically active individuals" generally

their traditional household roles. However, over time

includes all individuals engaged in work for cash or in-

increased female labor force participation is likely to

kind income for at least one hour in the week prior to

be accompanied by a gradual shift in traditional gender

the census or labor survey (reference period) used to

roles. As women become more independent economic

measure the labor force, as well as individuals with a

agents within society, their relative autonomy and

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