Women Employment Trend Versus That of Men and Factors Affecting Women's Employment Share in the Iranian Industrial Sector

This research studies women’s employment trend versus that of men. Factors affecting the overall employment are also estimated using panel data corresponding to relevant industries. The estimation is based ontwo-digit ISIC code during 1999–2005period. The results indicate that ‘food and beverages manufacturing’ and ‘textilesmanufacturing،’ among industries، have employed the highest number of women. Yet the highestgrowth rate of female employeehas relatively occurred in ‘publishing، printing and reproduction of recorded media’. In the industrial sector، skilled workers have the highest employment ratio and the lowest ratio belongs to engineers and technicians. Most of the Iranian industries show a greater share of woman employment in non-productive sector، as far as the total women employment isconcerned. The lowest woman employees’ share is attributed to technician and engineering (often less than 10%). In order to evaluate effects of factors on women employment، we have considered as panel data the following: share of firms that are controlled by private management (Types of firm management: state or private)، average women compensated wage، and production technology (labour intensive or capital intensive). Industries in which the majority of firms are privately managed، the women share of employment is higher. The increase in average women compensated wage in majority of the industries has caused an increase in woman employment ratio: this effect in 15 (mostly in delicate work and medium and relatively low skilled) industries and has been positive but only significant in four of them. The share of women employment among industries within which most firms use labour intensive technology has been relatively high.