Conference Paper
Understanding the Gender Employment Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, and Germany
No.
ERF_31_LB137
Publisher
ERF
Date
March, 2025
Topic
J. Labor and Demographic Economics
The rise in conflicts over the past decade has led to a significant increase in refugees, particularly due to the Syrian war, which has displaced over 5 million people. Refugee women, who often face the added burden of unpaid care work, are at an economic disadvantage compared to men, with lower employment rates and wages. While much research has focused on the employment gaps between immigrants and natives, less attention has been paid to the refugee gender gap. This study examines the gender employment gap among refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, and Germany, using data from surveys, including the Transnational Perspectives on Migration and Integration (TRANSMIT) and the IAB-BAMF-SOEP refugee samples. We analyze pre-migration factors (e.g., education, work experience) and post-migration conditions (e.g., language proficiency, legal residency, childcare). Results show that gender gap is smaller in Germany compared to Lebanon and Turkey In Germany, post-migration human capital—specifically language skills and participation in integration programs—is essential in narrowing the gender gap. In contrast, in Lebanon and Turkey, where informal labor markets are more prevalent, pre-migration human capital, including education and work experience, plays a more prominent role. This suggests that the relevance of human capital differs across destination countries, emphasizing the need for tailored integration strategies.
Authors
Maye Ehab
Researcher, Institute for Employment Research (IAB)
Authors
Stefanie Heyne
Postdoctoral Research Associate, ERC-Project, Mannheim Centre for...