A bibliometric analysis of female labor force participation research and international comparisons

Women constitute half of the global population and play a vital role in the labor force worldwide. This study provides a bibliometric analysis of research trends on female labor force participation (FLFP) from 2001 to 2021, with an emphasis on cross-country comparisons. Publication data are retrieved from Web of Science databases and analyzed using VOSviewer software. Rankings are established based on publication volume and citations. Findings indicate a continuous increase in global publications on FLFP research. 84 percent of total publications originate from the top ten contributing countries, including highly developed countries such as the United State, England and Germany, as well as populous countries like China and India. The United States emerges as a central hub in this field, demonstrating extensive international collaboration. Keyword analysis revealed thematic clusters related to FLFP, including gender, gender inequality, and fertility, which facilitated the construction of a conceptual framework highlighting evolving research priorities. This study systematically maps FLFP research using a bibliometric approach, delineates current trends, productive regions, institutional influence, and collaborative networks, and offers valuable insights for future researchers and policymakers. • Publications on FLFP have increased significantly. The USA, Germany and England are top 3 in publications and citations. • NBER, Harvard University, and IZA are top 3 organizations with most academic influence in FLFP research. • Journal of Population Economics, Labour Economics, World Development are top 3 journals with most published papers. • 28.8 % of the published papers involved international collaborations, with the USA showing the strongest collaborative ties. • The keyword analysis highlights fertility, gender wage gap and gender difference as key themes in FLFP research.