Abstract

The U-shape theory posits that during the initial phases of economic development, countries typically experience a decline in female labour force participation, which is subsequently followed by a recovery. In Morocco, female labour force participation has decreased compared to two decades ago due to a variety of factors analyzed in this study. Despite advancements generally associated with economic development and female inclusion, such as increased GDP per capita, reduced fertility rates, and enhanced access to education, a persistent gender gap of 50 percentage points in labour force participation rates endures in 2023 with rates of 19% for women and 69% for men. Furthermore, the creation of 41,000 urban jobs in has not succeeded in counterbalancing the losses of rural jobs (198,000 jobs lost in rural areas in 2023) nor in respond to the increase in the working age population, regardless of gender.
Employing data from the 2023 Moroccan Labour Force Survey, this study uses a multinomial logit model to investigate the factors influencing female labour force participation. The findings reveal that while higher educational attainment enhances the probability of female labour force participation, this effect has diminished over time and is insufficient to overcome other impediments arising from individual and household characteristics. Specifically, marital status and the presence of children within the household are negatively correlated with female participation. Additionally, the educational level of the household head is positively correlated with female inactivity, suggesting that entrenched gender roles may drive women out of the labour market and hinder the recovery of female labour force participation.