A Welfare State Paradox: State Interventions and Women’s Employment Opportunities in 22 Countries

This study explores the role played by the welfare state in affecting women’s labor force participation and occupational achievement. Using data from 22 industrialized countries, the authors examine the consequences of state interventions for both women’s employ-ment patterns and gender inequality in occupational attainment. The findings reveal a twofold effect: developed welfare states fa-cilitate women’s access into the labor force but not into powerful and desirable positions. Specifically, nations characterized by pro-gressive and developed welfare policies and by a large public service sector tend to have high levels of female labor force participation, along with a high concentration of women in…