Women’s participation rate in Iran’s job market in 2017 was only 16.8%. This is very low compared to the male participation rate which was 71.4% in 2017.
The statistics are based on the United Nations Development Program. The Statistical Center of Iran annually publishes the results of labor force surveys in Iran. It evaluates the labor market indicators for the 10 years between 2008 to 2017, which confirms gender inequality in the job market in Iran.
During this period, the average participation rate of men in the job market was four times more than women’s participation rate.
The average male labor force participation for this ten-year period was about 63% and only about 14% for women’s participation rate in the job market. Out of every 100 employed persons in Iran, 84 were men and only 16 were women. These statistics show a clear indication of a male-dominated job market in Iran.
As for the level of education, the population is divided into illiterate-low education, general education and higher education. The inequalities in all groups are in favor of men. Although 46% of the population with general education are women, women’s participation rate in the job market is only 9%, and out of every 100 people in this group, 10 are women. This gap between men and women still exists.
In the higher education group, women’s participation rate in the job market is about 37% and almost half of the men, and the employment quota is between 30-70 in favor of men.
The presence of a trained and well-educated workforce is an effective component of human capital in countries, and therefore, the role of women as half of the population cannot be ignored. Countries that cannot use this capacity will not have the expected output from the expenses on training high-educated women. (The state-run IRNA news agency – January 17, 2019)
