Page 1 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 9
September 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 178
The Contribution of Womens’Earnings to Family Income
Kajenthini Ganesahmoorthy
Department of Economics, Faculty of Commerce and Management,
Eastern University, Sri Lanka
vpkaji@gmail.com
1. Background
Dual-earner families are more prevalent
in some countries than in others. Even
when both spouses engage, the level to
which women contribute to the family
income differs from country to country
(Abe, 2010). Womens’ behaviour has been
altering regarding their education,
occupations, and fertility behaviour and
homes roles. “The Transfer of women’s
work from the household to commercial
employment is one of the most notable
features of economic development”
(Goldin, 1983 in Lewis).
The Labour force participation rate is an
indicator of not only economic change but
also social change. It doesn’t entire explain
changes in womens’ occupation, it
explains clearly that economic roles of
women and their individual move from the
now - paid to the paid sector (Goldin,
1983). Similar to Abe (2010) Margarita
(2010) emphasised that women’s
contribution to the family income it differs
in county to country. In this line, compare
with other countries even Sri Lanka also
tend distinguished trend. In Sri Lanka
males’ labour force participation rate was
74.6 and womens’ labour force
participation was 34.8 in during the period
of 2014. Thus currently Sri Lanka's male
labour force participation is approximately
75 per cent and female labour force
participation rate is about 35 per cent.
According to the central bank annual
report of Sri Lanka, female labour force
participation rate tend low labour force
participation rate. World Bank statistics
revealed that Sri Lanka tend the 28th
largest gender gap in Labour force
participation internationally. Hence, Sri
Lanka’s per capital income loss since
gender gaps in employment, labour force
participation, self-employment and wages
(Central Bank Annual Report, Sri Lanka,
2014).
Countries promote female work
opportunity, through the public sector.
Like that, the government of Sri Lanka had
provided huge employment opportunities
in recent years. Therefore, most of the
graduated had gotten employment
opportunities in the public sector. In order
to the Public Sector Survey, public sector
employment has grown by 3.2 per cent to
1,330,456 in during the period of 2014.
This raise was mainly achieved due to the
increase in net recruitment to the public
sector. Particularly more than 84 per cent
was recorded in the public sector in Sri
Lanka. Entirely the number of employed
persons raised 01 per cent to 8.424 million
in 2014 due to the increase in service
sector and industry sector employment
(Central Bank Annual Report, Sri Lanka,
2014). This raised employment also leads
to women get employment opportunities in
Batticaloa district. Until, there were most
of the graduates without employment
opportunities. In this situation government
also assist to provide employment
opportunities. Thus female engage not
Page 2 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 9
September 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 179
only public sector but also private sector.
Further, they also interested to d self- employment. Consequently, women
provide their support to family income via
occupied.
Women’s education, employment, fertility
of married women and home responsibility
to their family had long term effects on
their later economic aspect. The women
both single and married women have been
engaged expanded considerably in their
occupations over the period in Batticaloa
district. Therefore, this present study set
out to analyse the impacts of women’s
earnings on their family income
2. Literature Review
Various studies have conducted on
contribution of women income in different
ways. This study reviewed very few of
important previous studies regard this
issue. In this context (Goldin, 1983)
argued that married women’s occupation
have been employed expanded
significantly over the years. Moreover,
women’s’ earnings, education and fertility
behaviour are significant.
According to the Naseem et al. (2012),
women are playing a vital role in economy
of Pakistan since they contribute more in
enhances the financial condition of their
families. Though, the society does not
support to become as working women.
Therefore, increasing the cost of living and
education are insignificantly impact on
working women. Particularly Male
dominated society rarely agrees the
women to study. In this situation,
increasing working women would alter the
society attitudes towards their working.
Further, they found out whether when
women provide their support to enhance
financial status, where consumption level
also is higher.
Oztunca et at. (2015) argued that the
women labour force participation, primary
school enrollment and fertility rate are
significant causes for annual per capital
income. Female’s education induces the
female labour force participation.
Particularly they can enter the labour
market and they can earn more income
with secure employment. In addition, if
women have better education, which
should change attitudes toward female’s
roles in the labour market.
Harkness (2010) argued that, according to
the aggregate data an inverse relationship
between female employment and income
inequality. In USA, more single women
making the earnings equality, as a result
there is superior earnings equality among
Page 3 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 9
September 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 180
couples. In addition, increasing the female
employment and also reducing the
household income inequality are would
lead to reduce the gender pay gap in every
country.
In order to the Rome (2011) female consist of
an average 43 percent of the agricultural
labour force of developing countries. They
significantly engaged in the livestock sector
and also they play an essential role in
managing dairy animals and poultry. In this
way they can earn income contribute to their
family income. According to those studies,
female contribute positively to both their
family and their economy of the country.
3. Framework
This study construct framework to analyse
the contribution of women’s earnings on
their household income.
Figure: 3.1 conceptual Framework
In this study dependent variable is family
income and independent variables are level
of education of women (graduated women,
higher education, secondary education,
primary education), different kind of
education of women (working in
Agriculture, public sector, private sector
and self-employment), Age, Marital status
(Married, single), Ethnic (Sri Lankan
Tamil, Sri Lankan Muslim, Sri Lankan
Family Income
Women’s income
Level of Education
Occupation
Age
Marital status
Ethnic
Religion
Properties’ income
