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Full-Text Articles in Demography, Population, and Ecology
Enhancing Livelihood Opportunities For Young Women In Rural Upper Egypt: The Neqdar Nesharek Program, Nada Ramadan, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Khaled El Sayed, Rania Roushdy
Enhancing Livelihood Opportunities For Young Women In Rural Upper Egypt: The Neqdar Nesharek Program, Nada Ramadan, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Khaled El Sayed, Rania Roushdy
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
During the 30+ years that the Population Council has been operating in Egypt, Council researchers have examined many facets of young people’s lives, including conducting nationally representative surveys in 1997, 2009, and 2014. This research has documented the marginalization of Egyptian women in the public sphere, including the labor market, as well as gender inequities in mobility and access to schooling. Neqdar Nesharek is a social and economic empowerment program that evolved in response to this research and from the Council’s experience over the last few years working closely with out-of-school girls in Upper Egypt via the Ishraq program. The …
Balika Fact Sheet: Highlight On Livelihoods, Population Council
Balika Fact Sheet: Highlight On Livelihoods, Population Council
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
There are few income-earning opportunities for adolescent girls in the Bangladeshi Association for Life Skills, Income, and Knowledge for Adolescents (BALIKA) study area, and livelihoods opportunities vary considerably by economic status and education. The ability to acquire livelihood-relevant skills, networks, and work experience during adolescence can be an important predictor of productive capacity later in life. However, across the study districts, the proportion of adolescent girls who are working is low. Most girls work as tutors or are engaged in the agricultural and poultry sector. Better-educated girls are more likely to be engaged in paid work. This BALIKA “Highlight on …
Female Disadvantage In The Egyptian Labor Market: A Youth Perspective, Maia Sieverding
Female Disadvantage In The Egyptian Labor Market: A Youth Perspective, Maia Sieverding
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
In this brief, three aspects of female youth’s disadvantage in the labor market are analyzed: low labor force participation, high unemployment, and concentration in the public sector. These issues are closely interrelated and can be addressed through a set of policies that promote family-friendly employment conditions and the formalization of the private sector. The establishment of job search services for female youth is also critical to addressing the gender gap in unemployment.
Youth Perspectives On Entrepreneurship In Egypt: Barriers To Entrepreneurship As A Means To Combat Youth Unemployment, Maia Sieverding
Youth Perspectives On Entrepreneurship In Egypt: Barriers To Entrepreneurship As A Means To Combat Youth Unemployment, Maia Sieverding
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This brief examines a range of factors that Egyptian youth perceive to be barriers to starting their own business, including high risk, limited access to finance, complexity of micro-credit schemes, lack of business and marketing training, and the need for connections in order to succeed. According to results from the Survey of Young People in Egypt, these factors combine to create the view among many youth that entrepreneurship is not a viable means of labor-market entry. Rather, youth see entrepreneurship as either a supplemental income-generating activity while also having a “regular” job, or as a later-life employment option once they …
Female Disadvantage In The Egyptian Labor Market: A Youth Perspective [Arabic], Maia Sieverding
Female Disadvantage In The Egyptian Labor Market: A Youth Perspective [Arabic], Maia Sieverding
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
In this brief, three aspects of female youth’s disadvantage in the labor market are analyzed: low labor force participation, high unemployment, and concentration in the public sector. These issues are closely interrelated and can be addressed through a set of policies that promote family-friendly employment conditions and the formalization of the private sector. The establishment of job search services for female youth is also critical to addressing the gender gap in unemployment.
Informality And Labor Market Dynamics During Economic Downturns: Evidence From Egypt, Rania Roushdy, May Gadallah
Informality And Labor Market Dynamics During Economic Downturns: Evidence From Egypt, Rania Roushdy, May Gadallah
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This working paper investigates the evolution of the Egyptian labor market during the world financial crisis period. There has been a mild decline in unemployment, combined with a slight increase in both labor force participation and employment to population ratio. Some subgroups of workers have been more vulnerable than others during the crisis period. The results of this paper concur with the historical experience, which suggests that young, old, unskilled and female workers are more likely to bear the brunt of an economic downturn.
Women's Economic Resources And Bargaining In Marriage: Does Egyptian Women's Status Depend On Earnings Or Marriage Payments?, Rania Salem
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This working paper reports on a study using Egyptian survey data to determine whether the effect of women's work on their status is mediated by the material transactions that accompany marriage. This perspective posits that marriage payments made to the bride, as well as assets she herself brings to the marriage, enhance her bargaining position. Analysis of the 2006 Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey panel data is used to explore the associations between women’s labor market activity, earnings, absolute and proportional marriage payments, and a measure of women’s status within marriage, namely their decisionmaking power. Consistent with the existing literature, …
Le Travail Des Femmes Dans Le Secteur Agricole: Entre Précarité Et Empowerment—Cas De Trois Régions En Egypte, Au Maroc Et En Tunisie, Zhour Bouzidi, Saker El Nour, Wided Moumen
Le Travail Des Femmes Dans Le Secteur Agricole: Entre Précarité Et Empowerment—Cas De Trois Régions En Egypte, Au Maroc Et En Tunisie, Zhour Bouzidi, Saker El Nour, Wided Moumen
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Despite a remarkable decline in the agricultural labor force in general, the number of women employed in the agricultural sector is growing substantially, particularly as a result of the intensification of agricultural activity. This Population Council working paper focuses on the working conditions of women in the agricultural sector based on the analysis of three case studies in three countries: the West of Delta in Egypt, the coastal zone of Gharb in Morocco, and the Nadhour region in Tunisia. The report analyzes to what extent agricultural work could be a means of precariousness or empowerment for women workers. Results show …
Factors Of Career Mobility In Egypt By Gender, May Gadallah
Factors Of Career Mobility In Egypt By Gender, May Gadallah
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This Population Council working paper describes the opportunity cost of women’s participation in the labor market in Egypt, a critical determinant of not only participating in the labor market, but also of continuing in it. The paper observes career mobility and job-to-job turnover by gender; it also looks at career development over a period of time and analyzes the impact of different factors on career development. The importance of the results increases with the privatization trend in the Egyptian economy. Findings show that 90 percent of women work in the public sector where career paths are similar regardless of gender; …
Decrease Of Youth Participation In The Labor Market In The Palestinian Territories: Reasons And Determinants From Gender Prospects [Arabic], Ayman Abdul Majeed
Decrease Of Youth Participation In The Labor Market In The Palestinian Territories: Reasons And Determinants From Gender Prospects [Arabic], Ayman Abdul Majeed
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
It is widely acknowledged that Palestinian youths between the ages of 15–29 have a low participation rate in the labor force. Population Council research has shown that this age group faces many barriers and challenges that make it difficult to pursue work. The prevailing political, economic, social, cultural, and educational conditions are major contributors to the low work participation, in addition to a decreased sense of self-confidence and low self-esteem. The conclusions from the research were to propose practical solutions to help this generation to regain self-confidence and self-esteem and become more active participants in the labor force. There is …
Transition From Higher Education To The Labor Market: Unemployment Among Graduates From The Gender Perspective In The Palestinian Territory, Saleh Alkafri
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This research highlights and identifies the factors affecting the low potential of female graduates entering the labor market in the Palestinian Territories, despite their achievements in education. The results show that employers’ attitudes limit the occupations and activities that women can engage in, and delays in obtaining work often lead women out of the labor market. However, the report also shows that the problem of unemployment among graduates is worse in specific areas and disciplines where education and training do not match the requirements of the labor market. Given this general trend, Palestinian decisionmakers face extraordinary challenges to provide opportunities …
Rethinking The Time Allocation Of Egyptian Females: A Matching Analysis, Rana Hardy
Rethinking The Time Allocation Of Egyptian Females: A Matching Analysis, Rana Hardy
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This study explores the extremely biased division of labor within Egyptian households. The effects of marriage on women’s market and domestic labor supplies are important aspects of this study conducted by the Population Council for its working paper series on gender and work in the Mideast-North Africa region. New explanations for married women’s low participation rates are proposed. A matching model is estimated to determine how selection into marriage alters the time allocation of women. The empirical results show that marriage significantly affects both types of work with married women spending about eight hours less on market work weekly relative …
La Dynamique De La Discrimination Salariale Et De L'Équité Gendorielle Sur Le Marché Du Travail Au Maroc, Sami Zouari
La Dynamique De La Discrimination Salariale Et De L'Équité Gendorielle Sur Le Marché Du Travail Au Maroc, Sami Zouari
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This Population Council working paper investigates the dynamics of the wage gap between men and women in Morocco. Estimates have shown that women earn up to 35 percent less than men in the periods observed. Differences in characteristics between the two sexes, mainly due to the difference in human capital endowments, are explained by only a small proportion of the gap. A negative proportion reported, though, is a kind of breakthrough for women, since it means that in terms of human capital skills, women are better qualified than their male counterparts. These negative differences confirm that women, especially those working …
Female Wages In The Egyptian Textiles And Clothing Industry: Low Pay Or Discrimination?, Amirah El-Haddad
Female Wages In The Egyptian Textiles And Clothing Industry: Low Pay Or Discrimination?, Amirah El-Haddad
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This Population Council working paper analyzes data collected from a survey of firms and workers in the textiles and clothing sector in Egypt. These data allow for the explanation of the sector’s gender wage gap by poorer endowments, and relegation of women to low-paying firms and occupations; and by within-firm and within-occupation differential in returns. There is a pay gap in this sector, with men receiving an hourly wage 29 percent higher than that of women, partly because women are concentrated in the lower paid occupations, with a clear glass ceiling in effect, and outright discrimination occurs. The largest of …
Women's Job Search Behavior In The Egyptian Labor Market, Somaya Abdel Mowla
Women's Job Search Behavior In The Egyptian Labor Market, Somaya Abdel Mowla
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This study evaluates the difference between male and female job search behavior in the Egyptian labor market and the changes in this behavior between 1998 and 2006, in order to examine the effect of transition toward a market-oriented economy on job search activity. The paper also investigates the determinants of women’s job search behavior. The results reveal three alarming facts that raise worries about women’s labor force participation and their future labor market outcomes: women were less active job searchers than men, the gender gap in job search has widened, and this gap is even wider when excluding registration in …
Trade Liberalization, Inter-Industry Wage Differentials And Job Quality In Egyptian Manufacturing, Shireen Al Azzawi, Mona Said
Trade Liberalization, Inter-Industry Wage Differentials And Job Quality In Egyptian Manufacturing, Shireen Al Azzawi, Mona Said
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This working paper investigates the impact of trade openness on wage and job quality outcomes in the Egyptian manufacturing sector over a period of rapid trade liberalization. Results indicate that institutional factors of job quality (social security, medical insurance, a contract, paid casual leave, paid sick leave, and membership in a trade union) have the strongest correlation with the trade variables and the industry-specific characteristics used in the analysis. Tariff reduction per se, does not seem to have had a significant impact on either wages or job quality. On the other hand, increased export orientation exerts a strong positive impact …
Measures Of Job Quality In Morocco: Creating A Composite Index [Arabic], Touhami Abdelkhalek, Aziz Ajbilou, Mohamed Benkassmi
Measures Of Job Quality In Morocco: Creating A Composite Index [Arabic], Touhami Abdelkhalek, Aziz Ajbilou, Mohamed Benkassmi
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
No abstract provided.
Measuring And Operationalizing Job Quality In Egypt [Arabic], Ragui Assaad, Rania Roushdy, Ali Rashed
Measuring And Operationalizing Job Quality In Egypt [Arabic], Ragui Assaad, Rania Roushdy, Ali Rashed
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
No abstract provided.
The Impact Of Labor Market Reforms On Informality In Egypt, Jackline Wahba
The Impact Of Labor Market Reforms On Informality In Egypt, Jackline Wahba
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Egypt has undergone a number of economic reform measures since the early 1990s, with the aim of liberalizing the economy and moving toward a market economy. As a result, among other measures, the Egyptian government has introduced a new labor law (No. 12) with the goal of increasing flexibility in the labor market. Law 12, which came into effect in July 2003, provides comprehensive guidelines for the recruitment, hiring, compensation, and termination of employees. In particular, it provides increased flexibility for firms in the hiring/firing process, which has been a major bottleneck for job creation in the Egyptian labor market. …
When There Is No Respect At Work: Job Quality Issues For Women In Egypt's Private Sector [Arabic], Ghada Barsoum, Ali Rashed, Dahlia Hassanein
When There Is No Respect At Work: Job Quality Issues For Women In Egypt's Private Sector [Arabic], Ghada Barsoum, Ali Rashed, Dahlia Hassanein
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
No abstract provided.
When There Is No Respect At Work: Job Quality Issues For Women In Egypt's Private Sector, Ghada Barsoum, Ali Rashed, Dahlia Hassanein
When There Is No Respect At Work: Job Quality Issues For Women In Egypt's Private Sector, Ghada Barsoum, Ali Rashed, Dahlia Hassanein
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Egypt has one of the lowest female labor participation rates in the world. Based on ethnographic research, this working paper argues that women in Egypt, particularly young women, face job-quality issues that discourage them from continuing to work or even entering the labor market. The paper highlights women’s, particularly young women’s, valorization of jobs in the public sec-tor and with the government, even if untenable. Discussed are the advantages presented by the public sector in Egypt, why those jobs are valorized by women, and the strategies young women adopt in clinging to the hope of getting a public sector/government job. …
Trade Liberalization, Inter-Industry Wage Differentials And Job Quality In Egyptian Manufacturing [Arabic], Shireen Al Azzawi, Mona Said
Trade Liberalization, Inter-Industry Wage Differentials And Job Quality In Egyptian Manufacturing [Arabic], Shireen Al Azzawi, Mona Said
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
No abstract provided.
Mesures De La Qualité De L'Emploi Au Maroc: Vers La Construction D'Un Indicateur Composite, Touhami Abdelkhalek, Aziz Ajbilou, Mohamed Benkassmi
Mesures De La Qualité De L'Emploi Au Maroc: Vers La Construction D'Un Indicateur Composite, Touhami Abdelkhalek, Aziz Ajbilou, Mohamed Benkassmi
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
La qualité de l’emploi, son approche et sa mesure sont devenues des préoccupations majeures de plusieurs pays et organisations internationales dont le Bureau International du Travail (BIT). Dans ce travail, nous essayons de poser ce problème pour la première fois au Maroc. La prise de conscience relative à ce phénomène s’est retrouvée au cœur des débats dans les pays en développement, surtout ceux qui ont connu une libéralisation accrue des échanges et des ajustements sur les législations du marché du travail. Au Maroc, comme dans d’autres pays, un constat encourageant a été enregistré avec la baisse tendancielle du taux de …
Measuring And Operationalizing Job Quality In Egypt, Ragui Assaad, Rania Roushdy, Ali Rashed
Measuring And Operationalizing Job Quality In Egypt, Ragui Assaad, Rania Roushdy, Ali Rashed
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Given data constraints and the complexity of the concept, it is already quite challenging to operationalize the notion of job quality for wage and salary employment, but even more so for nonwage workers. This working paper addresses this challenge and attempts to formulate a measure of job quality at the individual job level. We combine information on actual and estimated earnings with information on access to social insurance, regularity of employment, work hours, and the nature of the workplace into an index of job quality, and we investigate the individual and enterprise-level determinants of such an index. Although our findings …
Measuring Women's Work: A Methodological Exploration, Ray Langsten, Rania Salem
Measuring Women's Work: A Methodological Exploration, Ray Langsten, Rania Salem
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
In this working paper, the authors contrast two approaches to the measurement of women’s work applied to the same population of ever-married women. These women were interviewed on two occasions—first during the 2003 Interim Egypt DHS, and again during the Slow Fertility Transition (SFT) survey conducted in 2004. The DHS uses a standard keyword question to measure work, while the SFT employs an activities list question format. The authors argue that the widely used keyword approaches to measuring women’s work underestimate the level of female labor force activity. They demonstrate that the activities list approach captures a wider range of …
Youth Livelihood Opportunities In Egypt, Safaa El-Kogali, Nagah Hassan Al Bassusi
Youth Livelihood Opportunities In Egypt, Safaa El-Kogali, Nagah Hassan Al Bassusi
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This report presents results from a quantitative and qualitative study on youth livelihood opportunities in Egypt. The study was motivated by growing evidence of increasing unemployment among the young at a time when new entrants into the labor force are also increasing at unprecedented rates. Egypt has a youth population of over 13 million aged 15–24—over a fifth of the total population. They constitute the largest segment of the economically active population. Whether this bulge of young workers entering the labor force is a “demographic gift” or a “demographic burden” depends in large measure on the policies that are in …
Transition To Adulthood Of Female Factory Workers: Some Evidence From Bangladesh, Sajeda Amin, Ian Diamond, Ruchira Tabassum Naved, Margaret Newby
Transition To Adulthood Of Female Factory Workers: Some Evidence From Bangladesh, Sajeda Amin, Ian Diamond, Ruchira Tabassum Naved, Margaret Newby
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
The rapidly expanding sector of garment manufacturing for export is unusual for Bangladesh in that it employs young, unmarried women in large numbers. This paper examines data from a study on garment workers in Bangladesh to explore the implications of work for the early socialization of young women. For the first time young women are given an alternative to lives where they move directly from childhood into adulthood through early marriage and childbearing. Work creates a period of transition as contrasted with the abrupt assumption of adult roles at very young ages that marriage and childbearing mandate. It is argued …