“Despite improvements in education and favorable regulations, the female labor force participation rate (FLFP) in Tunisia remains low, which hampers prospects for economic growth.
Despite significant improvements in GDP per capita, education levels and regulations, the FLFP only increased from 22.3% to 27.0% between 1991 and 2023”. This information comes from a box in the World Bank’s latest Economic Outlook.
A FLFP of 27% for Tunisian women
The same source adds that Tunisia’s score on the Women, Business and Law (WBL) index, which assesses the extent to which a country’s legal framework creates equal economic opportunities for women, improved from 53.1 in 1991 to 64.4 in 2023.
However, Tunisia’s FLFP remains below that of most other countries at a similar level of economic development.
This is important not only for societal equity, but also for the economy, which would benefit from an increase in the workforce and its skills.
A recent modeling exercise suggests that raising Tunisia’s FLFP to the average level of lower-middle income countries by 2030 could improve annual potential growth by 0.52 percentage points, resulting in cumulative GDP growth of 24% over the period 2024–2030.
Marriage and parenthood significantly reduce participation in the labor market, suggesting the need for policy guidelines to facilitate these transitions.
The labor market participation rate for women without children is almost 70% before the age of 30, dropping to around 60% by the age of 40.
In contrast, the participation rate for women with children begins to diverge around the age of 20, never exceeding 40%.
Conversely, labor market participation is higher among fathers than non-fathers. Although a higher level of education generally improves labor market participation, the presence of young children is negatively correlated with labor market participation at all levels of education, with a more pronounced effect among highly educated women.
Policies that facilitate the transition to marriage and motherhood could considerably improve women’s productivity and quality of life, particularly by strengthening childcare options.
The lack of childcare is widely perceived as the main obstacle to women entering the labor market in Tunisia.
Currently, only 1% of Tunisian children under the age of three and 50% of three- to six-year-olds attend a formal crèche.
Against this backdrop, government initiatives aimed at widening access to quality childcare services are important, even if the key regulations are still awaiting adoption.
Good job opportunities in the field of crèches should be encouraged by the state
The Tunisian Ministry for the Family, Women, Children and the Elderly has launched initiatives to improve childcare services. However, key regulations are still pending and the current facilities are inadequate, with only 461 crèches available for children under 3.
Essential actions include speeding up the implementation of existing programs, investing in crèches located in employment centers and underserved areas, and encouraging public-private partnerships.
Subsidy vouchers could help to offset the cost of childcare for low-income families. Improving training programs for childcare providers is also essential to ensure quality preschool education, which is a major challenge in childcare in Tunisia.
Effective adoption requires services that overcome barriers such as location, opening hours, cost, and cultural norms, and these services must be adapted to regional specifics.
Additionally, harmonizing parental leave for both parents, particularly by extending it to fathers, would help increase the childcare rate.
Although plans for reform have been in place since 2017, current paternity leave remains limited to two days in both the private and public sectors, and the timing and application of these reforms remain unclear.
The more they study, the less work they find
Bizarrely, “the probability of entering the labor market decreases by 3.3% for women with no education, 6.7% for those with primary education, 6.9% for those with secondary education, and 8.9% for those with tertiary education.”
According to a study published on Moncef Mzabi’s official website, women are making significant inroads in the field of human health and social action, which is considered a fundamental pillar of society.
Out of 44,527 employees, 29,922 are women, demonstrating their commitment to sectors that are essential to well-being and social cohesion.
They also play a crucial role in education, training 15,630 of the 24,897 employees and demonstrating their influence in transmitting knowledge and preparing future generations.
The motor vehicle and motorbike trade and repair sector also demonstrates the growing significance of women.
Of the 115,166 employees, 38,377 are women, highlighting their ability to succeed in this ever-changing field, where their contributions are increasingly recognized.
Women also play a decisive role in the manufacturing industry. Out of a total of 547,945 employees, 310,653 are women, which demonstrates their significant influence in a vital sector of the economy.
Their success in this traditionally male-dominated field is a testament to their expertise and determination.
Finally, in specialized scientific and technical activities, which require specific skills, women make an invaluable contribution.
Out of 30,532 employees, 14,258 are women, highlighting their expertise in these highly skilled fields and reinforcing their role in innovation and technological advancement.
