Page 236 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 4

CPS2214 Riyanti S. et al.
In 2019, Malaysia’s population has reached 32.6 million, where for every
100 females, there are 107 males (Department of Statistics, Malaysia [DOSM],
2019a). In 2030, it is projected that 38.1 million population will occupy this
country, with the sex ratio of 108 males for every 100 females (DOSM, 2019a).
Although males seemed to outnumbered females, females are projected to
outlived males. DOSM (2019b) predicted that females born in 2018 would have
the life expectancy of 77.6 years while males would live until 72.7 years.
As increase in life expectancy and decrease in fertility rate are coupled with
improved educational attainment, female roles have expanded beyond
caregiver and nurturer in the family. Ability to generate income, specifically
through employment, is one of the most effective ways to achieve economic
independence. A study by Luci (2009) found that economic growth promotes
women’s labour market participation only with active labour market policies
to facilitate the entry of women. Thus, she proposed that policies to promote
economic sustainability should be combined with policies to increase decent
and productive work opportunities for women. From the viewpoint of Kabeer
(2012), cultural and traditional roles assignments of breadwinners and
household nurtures attributed in most regions of the world to males’ higher
labour force participation. In relation to this, Duflo (2012) believed that paving
ways for female into the labour market would provide a strong catalyst for
countries to strengthen the economy. Ghanghas (2018) emphasised that
reducing women’s time of doing household chores can lead to their economic
development and hence empowerment of women. Hence, it is fair to deduce
that females’ roles in advancing the national social and economic landscape is
equally as important as males’. In Malaysia, empowering females to participate
in the economic and social development is used as a mean to improve the
quality of life. The Mid-Term Review of Eleventh Malaysia Plan has included
improving female labour force participation rate (LFPR) as one of the initiatives
to empower national human capital as the engine of economic growth. In this
sense, it is targeted that female LPFR will attain 56.4 percent by 2020.
LFPR is extensively used to assess the labour market and serves a useful
assessment of the labour market along with employment and unemployment
rate. ILO (2016) recommended using LFPR as one of the indicators to
determine the size and composition of a country’s human resources, and to
understand the labour market behaviour of different categories of the
population. The level and pattern of LFPR depend on employment
opportunities and the demand for income, which may differ from one category
of persons to another (ILO, 2016).
LFPR is generally higher for male than for female in any given country (ILO,
2019). Australia posted female LFPR of 44.6 per cent in 1982 compared to male
LFPR of 77.4 per cent. In 2018, the gap is narrowed down as female recorded
LFPR of 60.5 per cent while male LFPR dropped to 71 per cent. Similar trend is

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