Gender gap in labour force participation in cameroon: the role of human capital

This paper aims to examine the role of human capital in explaining gender differences in labour force participation in Cameroon. Specifically, the paper teases out the contributions of education in explaining gender differences in labour force participation and determines the extent to which health explains gender differences in labour force participation in Cameroon. We sourced the variables of interest from the most recent Cameroon household consumption survey. We used the fairlie decomposition and the instrumental variable probit methods of analysis. The results showed that health is positive and insignificant in explaining gender differences in labour force participation, while secondary and tertiary education contribute significantly in explaining observed gender differences in labour force participation. Importantly, after controlling for the endogeneity of health using cost of consultation as the instrumental variable, the gender-participation gap reducing effects of secondary and tertiary education even grow stronger. These findings suggest that policy interventions to reduce the gender gap in labour force participation should incorporate strategies that encourage and promote the enrolment of females in secondary and higher institutes of learning through financial incentives like scholarships and grants, policy and legislation, and partnerships.