Title: The impact of the human capital of women on the economic development of Malaysia

Authors: Verena Habrich; Vito Bobek; Gorazd Justinek; Tatjana Horvat

Addresses: University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, Austria ' Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ' Faculty of Government and European Studies, Žanova ulica 3, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia ' Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Abstract: The paper aims to determine the main obstacles for women in the job market and identify the impact of female participation on national development. This was executed by conducting a case study analysis for Malaysia's emerging market. The authors applied a data triangulation approach based on documents, archival records, and interviews. The findings demonstrate that the rate of women in the workforce is increasing but still severely lower than the men's rate. The main issues are cultural stereotypes, limited access to the job market, and difficulties with combining work and childcare. Raising women's participation in the workforce leads to a rise in economic growth and overall development in Malaysia. The country must overcome gender inequalities, properly enforce female-related regulations, and invest in human development. This point out the relevance of a country's level of development, culture, education, female-related laws, and their influence on women's decisions or ability to work.

Keywords: female labour force participation; FLFP; women's workforce participation; impact on economic growth; economic development; human development; human capital; gender gap; gender equality; Malaysia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2025.146481

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2025 Vol.40 No.3, pp.210 - 243

Received: 13 Feb 2021
Received in revised form: 09 Jun 2022
Accepted: 14 Jun 2022
Published online: 02 Jun 2025 *

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