The question of why very few women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are in the workforce has been the focus of countless conferences, workshops, and studies in the last few decades. Women make up the lowest percentage, which is (19%) of the global labor force outside of the Middle East and North Africa. Despite initiatives and policies intended to close the gender employment gap, women continue to be underrepresented in the workforce, which has a negative impact on families and slows down  GDP growth in the region.

The situation is not the same in every Arab country, but the barriers preventing women from entering the workforce are pervasive everywhere. The obstacles that prevent women from working include legal discrimination, social norms, the responsibility of childcare, low wages, harassment, gender-related biases in hiring, and lack of safe transportation options. Even though increasing the number of women in the workforce has been a goal for global development organizations for decades, governments' efforts continue to languish. For instance, according to a 2019 UN study in Jordan, weak legal protections and harmful gender views keep women out of the workforce. Furthermore, young women in Arab countries have a 42.5% unemployment rate, nearly double that of young men (21.4%) and about triple the global average of 14.9%.

Laws that empower women in all spheres of life are necessary for long-term gains in women's workforce participation. The media, the classroom, and the family all have a role to play in challenging ingrained social norms and prejudices.

By: Baniz Wasman