Decomposing ethnic gaps in women’s labour force participation: evidence from the UK
研究分解英国不同族群女性劳动参与率的差距，发现人力资本之外，融合因素、家庭结构和性别规范对南亚女性影响显著，而加勒比女性因更平等的性别态度参与率更高。
Abstract Despite substantial increases in women’s labour force participation in the UK, large disparities remain across ethnic groups. This article examines the sources of these gaps, assessing the relative importance of individual, household, structural, and cultural factors. Beyond the well-established role of human capital, we find that integration-related factors, household composition, family structure, and gender norms play a significant role, particularly for South Asian women. In contrast, over and above structural elements, more egalitarian gender attitudes help explain higher participation among Caribbean women. We also find that the influence of gender norms varies depending on economic constraints. These findings emphasize the need for targeted, group-specific policies to reduce persistent ethnic gaps in women’s employment and promote more inclusive labour markets. By focusing on participation as the first barrier, the article sheds light on the entry point for ethnic minority women, informing future research and policy on broader labour market inequalities.