Spatial differences in the labour force participation of married women: the case of Israel's peripheral areas

There are spatial differences in the participation rate in the labour force of married women in peripheral areas in Israel. This phenomenon can be contributed to different socio-economic characteristics, job-opportunities off-the-farm or farm types. The objective of this paper is to explore and explain these spatial differences in the labour market behavior. This was done by administering a questionnaire to 306 women residing in 2 different regions and 2 different types of settlements - urban and rural. It was found that urban women and rural women from the same region have different participation ratees because of their different socio-economic characteristics. However, farm women from 2 distinct regions have different patterns of labour market behavior because the job opportunities in one of the regions includes an acceptable option of farm work.