The World Bank recently issued a report titled “Women’s Economic Participation in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon” that sheds light on the female labor force participation in the Mashreq countries of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. Said report is a World Bank – IFC initiative that was prepared in conjunction with the governments of Canada and Norway and was produced as part of the Mashreq Gender Facility, a five-year facility that provides technical assistance to the aforementioned countries to enhance women’s economic empowerment and opportunities and acts as an incentive towards more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful societies where economic growth benefits everyone.

In figures, the report mentioned that increasing female economic participation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region contributes to inclusive growth, noting that women generate 18% of GDP in the region, compared to a world average of 37%. In this respect, the report commented that increasing Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) to the same levels of men could increase regional GDP by 47%. The report further mentioned that the MENA region has the lowest Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) in the world, with an average of 21% of women aged between 15 and 64 being active in the labor market. The report added that women’s participation rate in Lebanon stood at 26.3%, placing Lebanon in the 17^th position among MENA countries, ranking above other countries in the region (Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Morocco and Saudi Arabia) and outside the region (namely India and Pakistan). In addition, the World Bank highlighted that younger women in Lebanon have a higher participation rate than women aged above 45, with women aged between 15 and 44 being twice as likely to participate as women aged between 45 and 64. The World Bank added that two-thirds of Lebanese women with tertiary levels of education are either employed or job hunting, noting that these women represent around 31% of the total female population in the country. Furthermore, the report stated that women in the labor force tend to be engaged in less productive activities, with over two-thirds of Lebanese women working in service sectors (namely the public sector and domestic employment). In this vein, the report added that Lebanese women tend to be employed in lower paying jobs on a fixed contract basis, noting that they are less likely to attain management or senior positions.

From another angle, the World Bank identified four turning points that women encounter which lead some of them to leave the labor market or to never enter it. According to the report, these turning points involve “getting ready” (transitioning from school to work), “entering and remaining” (encountering several barriers that might prevent them from entering the market or to exit if these barriers pose constant constraints), “getting married” (additional barriers due to social and legal constraints), and “having a child” (additional barriers related to child care and that could lead women to leave the labor market). Moreover, the report commented that women may encounter barriers which are grouped into three drivers for gender equality: legal aspects, informal institutions, and markets. The report clarified that legal aspects entail laws and regulations that can either promote, protect, or prohibit the economic participation of women and guarantee their right to work in the same conditions as men and to equally contribute to the economy. It added that informal institutions are a set of procedures that shape social interactions. The report also mentioned that shared perceptions, attitudes and customs might define whether men and women should get married & at what age, and the role each gender plays after marriage (including sharing chores and care arrangements). Furthermore, the report clarified that markets are the availability & quality of job opportunities, in addition to the characteristics of care infrastructure and transport that altogether play a role in influencing women’s ability to access employment opportunities. Delving into further details, the report clarified that young women come across barriers as they start developing the skills and knowledge needed for them to enter into the labor market. Other barriers that women encounter when attempting to enter/remain in the labor market and that prevent them from accessing economic opportunities include harassment in the workplace & on public transportation means, with one-third of Lebanese women suffering verbal harassment and 1 in 5 women experiencing physical abuse. In the same vein, the report unveiled that participation rates fall for married women due to combination of preferences, child expectancy and social norms around women’s roles and responsibilities. The report indicated that married women who choose to work, contrary to social norms, may suffer from domestic violence as a result. Similarly, mothers encounter more barriers to participation in the labor market, namely household chores, childcare provision (quality, accessibility and affordability), among others that prevent women with children from entering or remaining in the labor market.

Finally, the World Bank recommended some measures that need to be taken going forward to improve women’s economic opportunities, namely revising some laws and regulations to address safety concerns for women on public transportation, correcting some misperceptions in social norms, eliminate gender-based discrimination in employment and sexual harassment in the workplace and in public places, only to name a few.