How has women’s employment changed alongside marriage patterns in Pakistan?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
The latest Labour Force Survey reports a female labour-force participation rate of 22.7% in 2024–25, compared with 68.7% for men under the survey’s current standard. PDHS 2017–18 found that 19% of currently married women had worked in the previous year, versus 98% of currently married men. Meanwhile, marriage ages rose between the last two DHS rounds. These series show simultaneous patterns, not proof that later marriage caused employment change. Survey definitions, unpaid work, childbirth, education and labour demand all affect the comparison.
22.7%Female labour-force participation rate in LFS 2024–25
Sources used
Labour Force Statistics
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
Official labour-force source covering activity, employment, sex, age, marital status and education variables.View sourcePakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18
National Institute of Population Studies and The DHS Program
National survey evidence for marriage timing, women, households and health indicators.View source