Factors influencing female employment participation in Ecuador

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Female employment significantly contributes to achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ecuador, including eradicating poverty (SDG 1), achieving gender equality (SDG 5), and promoting full and productive employment (SDG 8). Recognized constitutionally and supported by the National Development Plan, women's role in the workforce is a key aspect of Ecuador's social and economic framework. Women constitute 43.1% of the labor force, contributing 14.5% to the country's GDP in 2023. Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) in 2023 highlights a high employment rate for females at 94.7%, demonstrating their significant role in the economy.
However, this positive scenario is tempered by the unequal distribution of employment opportunities among women, influenced by factors like geographic location, ethnic background, education, and income level. These disparities are often under-addressed in policy frameworks, leading to normalized inequalities without targeted solutions for the diverse challenges faced by different groups of women. This quantitative research explores the primary factors influencing female employment in Ecuador, using data from the 2022 National Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment Survey (ENEMDU), encompassing the entirety of Ecuador’s territory, including all 24 provinces and incorporating urban and rural areas. The study uses logistic regression analysis on a sample of 115,666 working-age females, split into urban (86,638) and rural (29,028) sub-samples.
Findings indicate that age, certain ethnicities (Indigenous and Montubio), and marital status (being married) positively correlate with employment. Conversely, having family dependents and disabilities are factors that negatively affect employment opportunities for women.
The study aims to broaden the academic dialogue by adopting an intersectional perspective, examining how various social factors intersect to affect female employment. Its objective is to inform public policy, offering insights for more inclusive and effective employment strategies for women in Ecuador. By addressing labor market disparities and challenges, this research contributes to the overarching goal of gender equality in employment, aligning with Ecuador's commitment to the SDGs.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

여성 고용은 에콰도르에서 지속 가능한 개발 목표(SDGs)를 달성하는 데 기여하며, 이는 빈곤 퇴치(SDG 1), 성 평등 달성(SDG 5),전면적이고 생산적인 고용 촉진(SDG 8)을 포함합니다. 헌법적으로 인정받는 여성의 노동 시장에서의 역할은 에콰도르의 사회 및 경제 구조에서 핵심적인 측면입니다. 여성은 노동력의 43.1%를 구성하며, 2023년 국내 총생산 (GDP)의 14.5%에 기여했습니다. 2023년 국립 통계 및 센서스 연구소(INEC)의 데이터는 여성의 고용률이 94.7%로 높게 나타나 경제에서 중요한 역할을 하고 있음을 보여줍니다.
그러나, 이 긍정적인 상황은 지리적 위치, 인종 배경, 교육 및 소득 수준과 같은 요인에 의해 영향을 받는 고용 기회의 불평등한 분포에 의해 완화됩니다. 이러한 격차는 종종 정책 프레임워크에서 충분히 다루어지지 않으며, 여성 그룹별로 다양한 도전에 대한 목표로 한 해결책 없이 정상화된 불평등으로 이어집니다. 이 정량적 연구는 2022년 국가 고용, 실업 및 미취업 조사(ENEMDU)에서 얻은 데이터를 사용하여 에콰도르에서 여성 고용에 영향을 미치는 주요 요인을 탐색합니다. 이 조사는 에콰도르 전역의 모든 24개 주와 도시 및 농촌 지역을 포함합니다. 연구는 도시(86,638명) 및 농촌(29,028명) 하위 샘플로 나뉜 115,666명의 취업 연령 여성 샘플에 대한 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 사용합니다.연구 결과에 따르면 나이, 특정 인종(원주민 및 몬투비오), 결혼 상태(기혼)는 고용과 긍정적인 상관관계를 보입니다. 반면에 가족 부양 의무와 장애는 여성의 고용 기회에 부정적인 영향을 미칩니다.이 연구는 여러 사회적 요인이 어떻게 교차하여 여성 고용에 영향을 미치는지 검토함으로써 학술 대화를 넓히고자 합니다. 그 목적은 공공 정책에 정보를 제공하여 에콰도르 여성을 위한 더 포괄적이고 효과적인 고용 전략을 제시하는 것입니다. 노동 시장의 불균형과 도전을 해결함으로써, 이 연구는 고용에서의 성 평등이라는 광범위한 목표에 기여하며, 에콰도르의 SDGs에 대한 약속과 일치합니다.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• List of Tables........................................................................................ v
• List of Figures....................................................................................vii
• Abbreviations....................................................................................viii
• Abstract...............................................................................................ix
• Chapter 1. Introduction...................................................................... 1
• 1.1 Background of the study ................................................................................2
• 1.2 Statement the Problem .................................................................................13
• 1.3 Significance of the study..............................................................................13
• 1.4 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................14
• 1.4.1 Specific Objectives ............................................................................14
• Chapter 2. Literature Review .......................................................... 15
• 2.1 Adequate Employment.................................................................................15
• 2.2 Inadequate Employment...............................................................................16
• 2.2.1 Underemployment .............................................................................16
• 2.2.2 Unpaid Employment..........................................................................16
• 2.3 Unemployment.............................................................................................17
• 2.3.1 Open Unemployment.........................................................................17
• 2.3.2 Hidden Unemployment......................................................................17
• 2.4 Analysis of female Employment in Ecuador................................................18
• 2.5 Age and Female Employment Participation.................................................20
• 2.6 Education and Female Employment Participation.......................................21
• 2.7 Ethnicity and Female Employment Participation.........................................23
• 2.8 Female’s Marital status and Employment Participation...............................24
• 2.9 Family Dependents and Female Employment Participation........................25
• 2.10 Household Income and Female Employment Participation.......................27
• 2.11 Disability and Female Employment Participation......................................29
• 2.12 Human Capital Theory ...............................................................................31
• 2.13 Intersectionality Theory .............................................................................33
• Chapter 3. Analytical Framework and Methodology.................... 36
• 3.1 Research question.........................................................................................36
• 3.2 Hypotheses...................................................................................................36
• 3.3 Analytical Framework..................................................................................37
• 3.3.1 Dependent Variable ...........................................................................38
• 3.3.2 Independent variables.......................................................................39
• 3.4 Study Design ................................................................................................43
• 3.4.1 Study Coverage .................................................................................43
• 3.4.2 Sampling Method...............................................................................44
• 3.5 Data Collection.............................................................................................45
• 3.5.1 Operationalization of the Analytical Framework .............................45
• 3.6 Logistic Regression Model...........................................................................47
• Chapter 4. Results............................................................................. 49
• 4.1 Descriptive Analysis.....................................................................................49
• 4.1.1 Sample Distribution...........................................................................50
• 4.1.2 Characteristics of Study Sample .......................................................51
• 4.2 Logistic Regression......................................................................................70
• 4.2.1 Expected Results................................................................................82
• 4.2.2 Unexpected Results ...........................................................................84
• Chapter 5. Summary of Findings and Discussions........................ 86
• 5.1 Education as a Key Factor of Female Employment Participation ...............86
• 5.2 Ethnicity as a Key Factor of Female Employment Participation .................87
• 5.3 Disability as a Key Factor of Female Employment Participation................89
• 5.4 Family dependents as a Key Factor of Female Employment Participation .91
• 5.5 Marital Status as a Key Factor of Female Employment Participation .........92
• 5.6 Household Income as a key determinant of Female Employment Participation
• ............................................................................................................................94
• Chapter 6. Conclusion, Policy Implications, Limitation of the Study
• and Suggestions for Further Study.................................................. 97
• 6.1 Conclusion....................................................................................................97
• 6.2 Policy Implications.......................................................................................99
• 6.3 Limitation of the Study and Suggestion for Further Study ........................101
• References........................................................................................ 104
• Abstract in Korean.......................................................................... 116