Barriers to Entry and Re-Entry into the Labor Force.

A review of the literature indicates that on the topic of women's participation in the labor force, the attention of the economics profession has been directed more heavily toward analyses of the supply rather than analyses of either the demand or the interaction between the two. Detailed information on wages, employment and attitudes would greatly contribute to an understanding of the demand-related barriers to entry or re-entry faced by women. Concerning the supply, such variables as low wages, the presence of children and unfavorable attitudes toward women working outside the home can all be considered barriers to the labor force participation of women. However, empirical findings are frequently ambiguous in the absence of reasonably complete models of women's behavior. The need for more complete modeling of the activities of women over their life cycle, of which labor market participation is only a part, seems apparent. (Author/PC)