Why do ethnic differences in women’s labour force participation persist in the UK?

Women’s labour force participation in the UK has risen substantially over recent decades, yet large gaps remain across ethnic groups, with Bangladeshi and Pakistani women considerably less likely to participate in the labour market than other groups.

About the work

This research examines the factors underlying the persistent differences in labour force participation, moving beyond education and skills to explore the roles of family circumstances, migration and integration, and gender norms. It also considers how the relationship between gender norms and labour force participation varies according to household economic circumstances. From the research, a number of findings arose. 

There is no single explanation for ethnic gaps in women’s labour force participation. Education matters, but so do household composition, migration experiences and cultural attitudes towards gender roles, with their relative importance varying substantially across ethnic groups.

Different ethnic groups also face different barriers. For South Asian women, age at arrival, the presence of young children and traditional gender role attitudes emerge as important contributors to lower labour force participation, although their relative importance differs across Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women. Caribbean women’s relatively high labour force participation is partly explained by more progressive gender attitudes, higher educational attainment and a long-standing tradition of economic activity.

The research also highlighted the importance of context. While traditional gender norms are associated with lower labour force participation across all groups, their influence appears to depend on economic circumstances. When household resources are limited, economic necessity may constrain the ability to act on restrictive norms, whereas when resources are more abundant, traditional gender norms are more likely to influence labour force participation.

Reducing ethnic gaps in women’s labour force participation is likely to require targeted, group-specific policies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, and responses should recognise this diversity. 

Outputs

Gedikli, C., Popli, G. and Yilmaz, O. (2026). Decomposing ethnic gaps in women’s labour force participation: Evidence from the UK. Oxford Economic Papers. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpag019