Factors influencing women's decision to participate in the labor force / Nur Amalia Yusof, Nur Farahin Abu Bakar and Nur Hazwani Said

Similar to men, women also play an important role in the mainstream of the country's social and economic development. This can be measured through an increase participation of women in the labor market. Women's active participation as aforesaid employment will further help to bolster the growth momentum of stronger economic sectors. Therefore, it is important to identify why some women join the labor force while some prefer to be out of the labor force as well as what are the factors affecting women's decision to join the labor force. The purpose of this study is to identify which factors most influencing the decision of the women to participate in the labor force and to describe the women employment pattern by sectors. This study uses primary data of the group of women that is either participate or not participate in the labor force in Negeri Sembilan. To estimate the parameters involved, this study uses Logistic Regression Model with Omnibus Test, Hosmer and Lemeshow Test, Predictive Efficiency Model and Wald statistic method to estimate the parameters involved.
The findings of this study shows that number of children, perception on gender role and household income have a significant positive relationship while marital status, education and age have a significant negative relationship with women's decision to participate in the labor force. The results of the study will help the government and policy makers in developing appropriate strategies to help increase women's participation in the labor force, especially among tertiary educated women.