The impact of participation in global value chains on female employment: evidence from China

Han Liao and Suqian Liu

International Journal of Manpower, 2025, vol. 47, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: PurposeThis paper examines the impact of GVC participation on the female employment share and its mechanisms from the perspective of forward and backward participation.Design/methodology/approachThe core dataset is drawn from the China Labour Statistics Yearbook and the OECD's World Input-Output Tables (2021 edition). Based on these data, the paper employs fixed-effects models and an instrumental-variables approach.FindingsThe results reveal a clear distinction: forward GVC participation significantly increases female employment share, whereas backward GVC participation tends to reduce it. The impact operates through two key mechanisms: endogenous service input and total factor productivity. The effects are stronger in the tertiary sector than in the secondary and among women with medium- or high-skill levels than among those with low skills.Originality/valueBy distinguishing forward from backward GVC participation, this paper provides industry-level evidence on their differential associations with the female employment share and offers directional insights on engaging GVCs in ways more supportive of women's employment.

Keywords: Global value chain participation; Female employment; Endogenous services input; Total factor productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijmpps:ijm-03-2025-0231

DOI: 10.1108/IJM-03-2025-0231

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