The Increasing Role of Women in the Labor Market in Colombia: A Historical Analysis

Bogotá — During the 20th century, women in Colombia achieved a significant milestone by notably increasing their participation in the labor market, especially in the second half of the century.

Female labor participation (the fraction of working-age women working or looking for work) rose from 18% in 1951 to 26% in 1978, then to 47% in 1992, to 55% in 2000 and finally to 60% in 2018, while male participation remained relatively stable at around 75%.

This increase in women’s labor force participation can be attributed to the considerable advances in education, fertility, and civil and political rights they experienced throughout this period.

A recent study published in the Economy Drafts series, in which researchers from the Bank of the Republic participated, analyzes the main determinants of women’s labor participation in Colombia since 1960.

The authors examine the factors that influenced women’s employment opportunities and highlight the importance of context historical to understand this relationship, in the spirit of the work carried out by Claudia Goldin, awarded this year with the Nobel Prize in Economics for her study of the economic history of women in the United States, in particular of gender differences in the working market.

The results of the study show that one of the most significant transformations that impacted women’s labor participation in Colombia since the late 1960s was the demographic transition.

This transition is primarily attributed to declining fertility rates associated with reduced infant mortality, access to contraception, changes in social norms, and increased access to education for women.

Between the 1960s and 1970s, fertility relatively high had a negative impact on women’s labor participation. Furthermore, the article highlights that during this period, women’s labor participation experienced a significant increase as a greater number of women chose to pursue higher education.

The results also show that since 1980, married women have increased their presence in the labor market. Likewise, the authors found that the rapid and constant economic growth observed during this period stimulated the participation of women in the country’s workforce.

Between 1980 and 1995, the negative impact of fertility on women’s labor participation was reduced gradually, following a pattern similar to that observed in high-income countries during the 1960s and 1980s.

Additionally, the authors found a reduction in the negative impact of the infant mortality rate on female labor participation, which can be attributed to improvements in healthcare infrastructure and advances in medical technology that decreased the time spent caring for sick children. of women in the home.

Subsequently, and since the early 1990s, there have been significant advances in legislation and policies. aimed at promoting gender equality and increasing women’s participation in politics.

Over the period 1995-2010, the authors highlight the continued impact of higher education in driving greater participation of women in the labor market. The expansion of educational opportunities was accompanied by a notable increase in their participation rate.

This result reflects changes in social norms and attitudes, contributing to a more gender-equitable workforce.

Growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita also played a role fundamental in explaining the increase in female participation in the labor force, especially after 2003, when the The country experienced positive economic growth rates driven by booming commodity prices.

These findings highlight the complex interplay between social dynamics, economic conditions, and individual decisions in shaping women’s participation in the labor market.

During the last decade (2010-2018), women’s participation in the labor market reached its highest point. The most recent decline in the effect of fertility on labor force participation suggests a shift in social gender norms, in which married women with children are no longer excluded from the paid labor market.

Furthermore, with low fertility rates, an additional child no longer implies a reduction in women’s labor force participation. On the other hand, Male labor force participation remained stable during this period and showed a correlation positive with female participation, which suggests a complementary and not substitutive relationship between the work of men and women.