The Heterogeneous Effect of COVID-19 on the Gender Gap in Iran

Abstract:COVID-19 has impacted all human beings, but more severely people with baseline vulnerabilities, and especially women. The impact is even more pronounced in developing countries where gender gap bias is more acute. We use the national data set of the Labor Force Survey, from 2015 to summer 2020, to assess the heterogeneous impacts of the downturn on the employment of women in Iran. Findings show that women have disproportionately exited the labor market, which widens the gender gap in the participation rate. They also show a slower recovery for women compared to men. In contrast, when remaining in the labor market women’s working hours are less affected than men’s. Overall, our findings show a heterogeneous effect from the pandemic among women regarding their education level, age, and occupational choices.