Women's Work and Labour Force Participation in Pakistan's COVID Recovery

The economic crisis resulting from COVID-19 is expected to affect women disproportionately (International Labour Organization 2020). In the proposed project, we will build on an existing program studying job search and employment in Pakistan to address three key gendered challenges for women triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic: differential job loss and recovery across occupations in which men and women are concentrated; differential exposure when returning to work due to women's exposure as teachers and caregivers; and disproportionate responsibility for dependent care for sick household members and children during school shutdowns. We test whether job search assistance speeds men's and women’s return to job search and work over the COVID-19 economic recovery and helps to address these challenges.