ISLAMABAD: A recent joint research initiative by Gallup Pakistan and Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality (PRIDE) has shed light on a concerning trend in Pakistan’s workforce. According to the analysis of the Labor Force Survey 2020-21, a staggering 70% of female engineering graduates in the country are either unemployed or out of the labour force. Out of the total 28,920 female engineering graduates surveyed, only 8,146 (28%) were employed, while 6,054 (20.9%) were unemployed, and a significant 14,720 (50.9%) were out of the labour force (not seeking employment).
This concerning trend highlights the challenges faced by highly educated women in finding suitable employment opportunities.
The research also examined the regional disparities among female engineering graduates. The analysis showed that 21.1% of these graduates resided in rural areas, while 78.9% were in urban areas. In rural regions, 43.9% of engineering graduates were employed, and 36.3% were unemployed. Interestingly, the proportion of engineering graduates choosing to remain out of the labour force in rural areas was significantly lower at 19.8% compared to the national average of 50.9%.
Urban areas presented a different picture, with 24.0% of female engineering graduates employed, 16.8% unemployed, and a staggering 59.2% out of the labour force. The study highlighted that employment opportunities for female engineering graduates were notably higher in urban areas (67.2%) compared to rural areas (32.8%). However, the majority of those out of the labour force were in urban regions, accounting for 91.8%.
Further analysis revealed that 64.2% of female engineering graduates choosing to remain out of the labour force were married, indicating a societal trend of not pursuing a professional career after marriage.
This collaborative research between Gallup Pakistan and PRIDE aims to provide valuable and policy-relevant economic and social research data for policymakers in Pakistan. The findings from the Labor Force Survey 2020-21 underscore the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to address the employment challenges faced by female engineering graduates, fostering a more inclusive and equitable workforce in the country.
