Decomposing ethnic gaps in women's labour force participation: evidence from the UK

Despite substantial increases in women’s labour force participation in the UK, large disparities remain across ethnic groups. This paper examines the sources of these gaps, assessing the relative importance of individual, household, structural, and cultural factors. Beyond the well-established role of human capital, we find that integration-related factors, household composition, family structure, and gender norms play a significant role, particularly for South Asian women. In contrast, over and above structural elements, more egalitarian gender attitudes help explain higher participation among Caribbean women. We also find that the influence of gender norms varies depending on economic constraints. These findings emphasize the need for targeted, group-specific policies to reduce persistent ethnic gaps in women’s employment and promote more inclusive labour markets. By focusing on participation as the first barrier, the paper sheds light on the entry point for ethnic minority women, informing future research and policy on broader labour market inequalities.