In the context of increasing global gender disparities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), understanding the structural determinants of female labour force participation has become crucial both theoretically and for policy. Despite the growing body of research on gender and labour markets, cross-country evidence integrating symmetric and asymmetric analytical approaches remains limited. This study aims to analyse the effects of gender-based structural factors on women's labour force participation and to examine country-specific results. Using a sample of 31 countries with shared location and time data and 2022 data, the Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) (economic), the Inequality-Adjusted Education Index (IAE), the Gender Development Index (GDI), and the Gender Inequality Index (GII) variables on Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) were examined. The analysis was conducted using a two-stage (symmetric and asymmetric) mixed-methods research design (explanatory sequential), involving structural equation modelling (SEM) with SmartPLS and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). According to the research findings, GDI has a positive effect on FLFP, whereas GII and GSNI have a negative effect on FLFP. IAE was found to have no direct significant effect but may play an indirect role through interactions with other factors. On the other hand, the importance-performance results revealed that GDI has a strong positive effect on FLFP in the short term. According to FsQCA results, women's labour force participation can be explained by distinct configurations across countries, and these differences necessitate context-specific policies.
Sergen Gürsoy (Wed,) studied this question.