Female Labor Force Participation and Gender Norms: A Machine Learning Analysis of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Natalia Pecorari and Jose Antonio Cuesta Leiva

No 11372, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This paper addresses two gaps in the female labor force participation literature: the integrated analysis of individual, household, community, and national determinants, and the use of machine learning techniques to capture nonlinear dynamics. Using decision trees, the analysis identifies key drivers, thresholds, and sequences shaping women’s labor participation in the Arab Republic of Egypt—which remains below regional and global averages. Drawing on 2021–22 Arab Barometer data, the analysis finds that while gender norms matter, access to childcare is the most decisive factor. The paper concludes by outlining priorities for future research on the complex dynamics of female labor decision-making within and beyond Egypt.

Date: 2026-05-05
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