Women’s labour force participation (LFP) in Chile has increased significantly in recent decades but the gap to men remains substantial. Women also tend to work fewer hours and in temporary or informal jobs with lower wages and no social protection. One of the main reasons women do not participate in the labour market is that they do not have access to childcare for their children, which remains the case even when the children reach school age. A team of local PEP researchers found that extending school hours improves the labour market outcomes for mothers of primary school-aged children. With longer school days, mothers’ schedules are more compatible with higher quality jobs, leading to increased wages and household welfare.
Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
