Barriers for Women in the Labor Market

In recent decades, women's share of the labor market has been significantly low; in spring 1405, the economic participation rate of women in the labor market was only 13.7% and the unemployment rate was 16.7%. For men, these figures are 67.8% and 7.5%, respectively. However, the gender gap in the labor market does not end with unemployment and participation rates; research shows that unemployed women have a much lower chance of finding a job compared to men. Conversely, the likelihood of women losing their job positions is much higher than that of men. Additionally, a large portion of women's activities in the labor market is confined to low-income care, educational, and service sectors, a situation referred to as horizontal segregation. Furthermore, vertical segregation also exists in Iran's labor market, with only 19% of managerial positions held by women, while the remaining seats are occupied by men. This structural inequality occurs despite the fact that, in recent years, women's share of higher education and university graduates has been steadily increasing; a clear contradiction that leads to both the waste of vast human resources and educational capital of the country, and reflects institutional and legal barriers to harnessing this potential. The existence of a 'glass ceiling' in decision-making layers, the reproduction of traditional stereotypes about the breadwinner role, and the absence of supportive mechanisms such as effective maternity benefits and comprehensive insurance have effectively trapped women in a cycle of job insecurity and unconventional wages. In the absence of fundamental policy reforms, the economic isolation of half of the society not only undermines social justice but also holds hostage the capacity for sustainable growth of the national economy.