The objective of this policy note is toexamine the gender dimension of the Egyptian labor market,with a focus on identifying the scope for policies toimprove female labor force participation. An update to theEgypt gender assessment report of 2003, it is envisioned asa contribution to programmatic work on gender and inclusionin Egypt, helping build evidence which can inform policyaimed at improving the participation and retention of womenin the labor force. Analytical and investigative in nature,it is the hope that this note will motivate discussion anddebate among stakeholders in the country. The questions tobe addressed in the note are also relevant for policydiscussions and Bank operations in other countries,especially those in the Middle East North Africa (MENA)region where females face similar challenges to labor forceparticipation. Besides laying out the underlying correlatesof gender gaps in these areas, the report recommended acomprehensive list of 'strategic interventions' bysector for the government and other development actors, inareas such as investment in women's education, there-examination of certain discriminatory provisions in thecountry's legal system, and the promotion of culturalnorms that value women as equal partners to men. In thesphere of women's economic opportunities, the reportpinpointed vulnerabilities such as high unemployment rates(particularly among the more educated), and adisproportionate dependence on an already shrinking publicsector. Highlighting the need for creating productive andsustainable jobs for women in the private sector, the reportsuggested initiatives such as increasing women's accessto training, technology, land, credit and information.
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