Perception of Undergraduates towards Female Labour Force Participation

The female adult literacy rate in Malaysia increased to 94.7 percent in 2004 from 64.7 percent in 1980 while the female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) in Malaysia has remained stagnant around 47 percent over the same period. The relatively low FLFPR will be a major hindrance to Malaysia's economic development. The results show that nearly all female graduates are willing to join the labour force upon graduation. However, they will not work if their husbands forbid them, even when facing financial constraints. Hence, the lower FLFPR in Malaysia is probably due to low support from their husbands and family commitments, rather than unmet job expectations. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.