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MEASURING LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION

OF WOMEN

(UGANDA’S EXPERIENCE)

BEN PAUL MUNGYEREZA (NSO)AND

RICHARD NDIKURYAYO (GENDER MINISTRY)

Global Forum On Gender Statistics Accra, Ghana, January 26–28, 2009

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Presentation Outline

Why measure women participation

Data sources

Collaboration to improve measurement

Selected Labour Market Indicators

Preliminary findings of the Gender and Productivity Survey

Efforts to build gender statistics in Uganda

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Measuring women’s work

Purpose: To provide information We want to know:

The status of women participation?

We want to monitor:If there are changes in labour force participation of women

Use information to improve policy and plans.

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Data sources

Two main data sources, which generate data that is interpreted to support national-level planning towards gender equality and equity.

Censuses (after every ten years) National Household Surveys.

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National Household Surveys

Uganda National Household Surveys every after 2 years

Other household-based surveys include:

demographic and health survey (every 5 ), national service delivery surveys (every 4

years) etc

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Efforts to improve the measurement of women’s work in Uganda

Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) works very closely with all the stakeholders.

UBOS together with key stakeholders developed the compendium of concepts and definitions used in the National Statistical System with Gender concepts clearly spelt out.

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Specific activities to improve the measurement of women’s work in Uganda

Consultative meetings Modular Approach Gender Analysis of Census and

Survey Reports Gender and Productivity Surveys Computation of Labour Market

Indicators

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Consultative meetings Questionnaires prepared are shared

out with different stakeholders for their input. UBOS always consults with Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Uganda Gender Forum.

However, it must be noted that not

all suggested questions are always included due to limited space in survey questionnaire.

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Modular Approach

UBOS attaches more comprehensive modules. For example, during the 2002/03 and 2005/2006 National Household Surveys, separate and more detailed labour module was attached.

More detailed information on the labour market in relation to gender and women’s work was included.

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Gender Analysis of Existing data

Detailed gender analysis of Population and Housing Censuses and National Household Surveys.

Analysis of existing data reveals a

number of gender issues that were omitted.

The issues generated assist UBOS when organizing subsequent censuses and surveys to ensure that women’s work is captured.

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Gender and Productivity Survey

The first ever Gender and productivity survey was conducted in Uganda between October 2007 and February 2008

Questions developed jointly between the Economic Policy Research Centre, Uganda Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Aimed at capturing more data particularly in the area of women’s paid and unpaid work. The survey covered 4,291 households in the entire country.

In addition to the regular socio-economic module, individual questionnaires were developed for women and men on assets ownership, health, roles in decision making, domestic violence, etc

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Gender and Productivity Survey cont..

Woman’s questionnaire Decision regarding utilization of resources earned by

the woman Own choice VS husband’s choice Voluntary vs involuntary surrender of earnings to

husband This important gender dimension has often been left

out by national household surveys.

Extensive training for enumerators was carried out to be able to fully capture women’s contributions.

The report for this survey is yet to be completed. Only a draft has been developed.

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Labour Market Indicators

Size in the Labour force Labour force participation rate Employment to population ratio

Status in employment Employment by sector Hours of work

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Labour Force

Definition: Economically active population in segment 14 to 64 years

Approx. 9.8 million (2003) Males: 47.4%

Females: 52.6%

Slight male/female difference.

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Labour Force Distribution: By Literacy status

80.4

19.6

60.1

39.9

69.7

30.3

01020

304050607080

90

Male Female National

Literate Non-Literate

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Labour Force Participation Rate:By Residence

78.4

70.4

80.7 81.8

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

Urban Rural

Male Female

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Employment to population ratio: By Residence

78.2 79.270.7

57.1

0102030405060708090

Rural Urban

Male Female

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Employment to population ratio: By Education attainment

89.2

77.971.1

91.7 89.7

76.4

58.8

85.1

0

20

40

60

80

100

Male Female

No Schl Primary Secondary Sec +

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Status in employment

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64

148.5

51.2

40.3

15.2

57.4

27.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Male Female National

Wage Self Empl Unpaid F

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Average Hours of work per week: By Residence

34.9

27.8

47.641.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

Rural Urban

Male Female

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Gender and Productivity Survey2008

Preliminary Findings

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Participation Rate:By Residence - GPS

75.878.3

69.9

60.6

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

Rural Urban

Male Female

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Gender and Productivity Survey

The GPS preliminary results for 2008 are consistent with the household survey results of 2003

Participation rate for women in rural is higher than urban

Within rural, female participation rate is higher than that for men

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Share of unpaid family workers - GPS

19.4

49.4

7.7

22.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Rural Urban

Male Female

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Share of unpaid family work

The GPS preliminary results are consistent with the household survey results

More women are engaged in unpaid family work

There is more unpaid work in the rural areas

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Gender intensity in production

Knowing that women have access and seek employment is important

But it is also important to know how women compare to men within category

Gender intensity measures the share of women in a given employment category.

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Gender Intensity – GPS(%age of women)

44.4

73.4

29.1

37.1

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80 Self employed

Unpaid fam. Wk

Private employ.

Govt employ

Women dominate in

unpaid family

workers

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Median wage per month in the private sector (‘000

ug.shs)-GPS

60

35

150

75

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Rural Urban

Male Female

29

Decision on spending income earned by wife

71.4

26.4

2.3

82.6

16.4

1.10

102030405060708090

Formal marriage Non Formal marriage

Own Choice husband (at will) husband (agnst will)

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Major Household expenditure decisions (women quest.)

20.2

54.3

24.1

1.6

26

56.9

15.5

1.70

10

20

30

40

50

60

Formal marriage Non Formal marriage

Own Choice Husband Other

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Efforts to build Gender Statistics in Uganda.

Efforts to improve measurement of women’s work

Appending a module of activities list onto National Household Survey questionnaire, to capture the full range of economic activities in which Ugandan women are engaged in.

During the design of surveys, UBOS will attempt to integrate women activity lists into questionnaires.

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Efforts to build Gender Statistics in Uganda (cont’d..)

Institutional efforts UBOS has recruited an officer

specifically to handle gender statistics.

Increased collaboration between the Ministry of Gender, the National Statistical Office and the Training institutions.

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Efforts to build Gender Statistics in Uganda (cont’d..)

Institutional efforts … Through NSDS support, the Ministry for

Gender has developed its Strategy for the development of statistics in the sector. Statistics has been mainstreamed in the sector and catered for in the budget for the next FY

Through the NSDS, the statistics unit under the Ministry responsible for Gender has been equipped and strengthened.

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Thank YouThank You