Determinants of women's non-family work in Ghana and Zimbabwe
Abstract
One objective of this paper is to evaluate the determinants of female non-family
work in Africa. Selected labor force participation theories are tested using
demographic and health survey data. The traditional kinship-oriented family
organization in Africa, along with high fertility, have long been seen as factors that
constrain women’s participation in the labor force, particularly in seeking formal
sector employment. We use demographic and health survey data from two African
countries, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Education emerges as the most important
determinant of non-family work. Even if female education levels increase, single
women may not gain easy entry into the informal economy managed by kinshipbased
social networks. A large proportion of these educated women may not find
jobs if the formal economy does not expand. Results from Ghana and Zimbabwe
are compared.