The Profile of Female Labor Force Participation in Malaysia Based on Recursive Partitioning Analyses

Abstract

In determining the level of the Malaysian economy, one of the factors contributing to the economic development of the country is the availability of labour. Studies on the availability of female labour force by identifying female profiles in labor force participation were made using data from Labour Force Survey (LFS), Malaysia for reference year 1990, 2000, 2010 and the latest 2018. Referring to the latest year 2018, the recursive partitioning (RP) technique showed that four subgroup profiles of working women have been created equal to 12%, 43%, 57% and 78%, respectively (percentage of working women at the four subgroups). Majority of the working women are identified in the group of aged 20-59 and the highest certificate obtain was tertiary education (Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree) with 78%. Comparison between year 2018 with others reference year, there was a difference in the profile of working women whose working age had increased from 54 to 59 years. There is also a difference in the highest qualification obtained from obtaining only UPSR or SRP qualification in year 1990 to Diploma and Bachelor’s degree certificate in year 2018. Therefore, efforts need to be enhanced by providing initiatives for this group so that those who are in this group or will join this group later will be motivated to join labour market.