Hidden female labour reserves

Abstract

Taylor J. (1968) Hidden female labour reserves, Reg. Studies 2, 221–231. The growth of productive capacity is partly dependent upon the rate of increase in the physical stock of labour. The major part of any increase in the physical stock of labour in the U.K. will have to come from those localities which have relatively low participation rates for married women. Quite a sizeable proportion of married women would be induced to seek work if appropriate employment opportunities were available, but they have no incentive to register as unemployed and their offer to work is therefore not easily detected. To effectively exploit this reserve of labour it is important to know the extent and whereabouts of hidden female labour reserves. This paper describes and evaluates a simple, low cost method of measuring female labour reserves in the sub-regions of the economy. It is evident from empirical studies that considerable reserves of female labour exist in the U.K.