Dynamics of Women’s Labor Force Participation in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis of past five decades

Fariha Azme Arthy; Afsana Islam

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.45125

Dynamics of Women’s Labor Force Participation in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis of past five decades

Author(s)	Fariha Azme Arthy, Afsana Islam
Country	Bangladesh
Abstract	Bangladesh is a developing nation that incessantly progresses in terms of educating and empowering women. Women constitute almost half of its population, so, women’s engagement in the economic sector is essential for the country’s stability, progress, and growth. Women still face challenges, but if they had easy access to economic prospects from end-to-end gender equality, their lives might be significantly simpler. In order to increase the percentage of women who participate in the workforce, assurance of education, prevention of gender-based violence, and the elimination of child marriage can help (Mitra et al., 2015). In comparison with its neighboring countries, Bangladesh is doing well in promoting women's empowerment through education and employment (Ministry of Planning, 2018). Based on the currently available literature, the shifting trend of women's labor force participation is demonstrated in this paper. From independence to the present time, Bangladesh has been taking various initiatives to promote female employment that result in an upward trend of female labor force participation over the years. Establishment of rehabilitation centers, innovation of microcredit programs, expansion of industry (ready-made garments), proliferation of education and mobility, and reduction of gender inequality influence to bring women competitive labor market. Currently, 38% of the female working population is involved in the active economy of Bangladesh. RMG, or the textile portion, the biggest formal working sector for women, contributes to almost 80% of the country’s export economy, where 65% of labor is female. Despite such progressive trends, social barriers, the COVID pandemic, a lack of female leadership and proper policy planning, family burdens, etc., hold women back. This essay also makes the case that fostering an environment that is supportive of women will increase their economic empowerment in Bangladesh.
Keywords	Female labor-force participation, empowerment, Gender equality.
Field	Sociology > Data / Information / Statistics
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On	2025-05-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.45125
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9mtr5

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Dynamics of Women’s Labor Force Participation in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis of past five decades

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