Conference Paper
Higher Education and Female Labor Supply: Evidence from a Large-Scale Expansion Policy
No.
ERF32AC_172
Publisher
ERF
Date
May, 2026
Topic
J2. Demand and Supply of Labor
J1. Demographic Economics
This paper investigates the causal impact of higher education on female employment by leveraging the expansion of higher education in Turkey as a natural experiment. Our results demonstrate that increased educational attainment significantly boosts women’s paid employment; however, the gains in high-skilled employment are limited. To understand the channels driving these high returns to employment despite modest high-skilled gains, we find strong evidence that higher education leads to substantial improvements in job quality, including access to secure and stable employment. These findings align with existing literature, which highlights women’s preference for job security and favorable working conditions as key factors influencing their labor market participation. Additionally, we provide suggestive evidence of nonpecuniary benefits of education, such as delaying marriage and increasing bargaining power within the household. These gains enhance women’s autonomy and reduce social and cultural barriers to employment, underscoring the broader role of education in empowering women both economically and socially.
Research Fellows
Asena Caner
Professor of Economics, TOBB-University of Economics and...
Authors
Çağla Ökten
Associate Professor, Bilkent University