Who keeps the economy running when no one’s looking?
“Every time we get a chance to get ahead, they move the finish line.”
— Dorothy Vaughan, Hidden Figures
I recently watched Hidden Figures, the film about African-American women at NASA whose brilliance helped send humans into space—yet whose names were missing from the history books. That film left me wondering: who are the “hidden figures” of North Macedonia?
The answer is surprisingly close to home. They’re not scientists in lab coats or engineers in control rooms. They’re the women cooking breakfast, getting kids ready for school, caring for elderly parents, and keeping homes running, invisible to the economy, but essential to society.
Where are the Women in the Workforce?
Let’s start with the numbers. In North Macedonia, only 42.8% of women are in the labor force, compared to 62% of men. That’s well below the global average of 48.7%, and even further from the EU average. These aren’t just statistics, they’re thousands of women whose talents, ambitions, and skills are left untapped.
Figure 1. Labor Force Participation North Macedonia vs. Euro Area
What does this mean for the economy? Recent estimates (Finance Think, 2025)[1]. suggest that if women in North Macedonia participated in the labor force at the same rate as men, the country’s GDP could be up to 8% higher That is a significant loss in potential growth.
So, if the economic case is so clear, why aren’t more women working?
While researchers have pointed to many reasons why fewer women are in the workforce; from access to education and labor market discrimination, to how tax policies and maternity leave are designed, in this blogpost, I focus on something more personal: cultural norms and time-allocation patterns. These are arguably among the most persistent and overlooked drivers of female inactivity in the Western Balkans and North Macedonia.
The Unpaid Shift: How Housework Keeps Women Out of Jobs
One big reason is tradition. For generations, society has expected men to be the breadwinners and women to stay home and take care of the family. These old ideas still shape how many households work today. So even if it’s not always a conscious decision, women often end up as the primary caregivers. And this isn’t just “lending a hand”—it’s basically a second full-time job, just without the paycheck or recognition. On average, women in North Macedonia spend around 30 hours a week on unpaid household work. Men? About 10.
The further disaggregation of the ‘housewives’ role among inactive women suggests that a sheer majority – about three quarters – are indeed housewives in the true sense of the word, i.e. take care of the household chores (Figure 2).
Figure 2 – Composition of the role of ‘housewives’ in North Macedonia
The Childcare System
Another factor contributing to the role of women as housewives is childcare. In North Macedonia, there are nearly 130,000 children under 6. But in 2022, only only 36,000 were enrolled in kindergarten. That’s a 28% enrolment rate and it drops drastically in rural areas.
Figure 3. Total and enrolled children aged 0 – 6
The number of kindergartens in the country is also a limiting factor, just 117 in total, which is far from enough for the population of children aged 0–6. And even those that exist are unevenly distributed, making it harder for rural families to access services. Urban areas like Skopje have more centers, but still can’t meet the demand: enrollment in Skopje stands at just 33.5%, and many parents face long waitlists. In regions like the East, despite having some facilities, enrollment is as low as 8%, likely due to transportation and logistical barriers. Rural areas face even bigger gaps.
Figure 4. Distribution of kindergarten centers across the country
The Quiet Weight of Elderly Care
Caring for aging parents is another major reason women stay out of paid work.
North Macedonia has just 43 elderly care centers, covering only 6% of the senior population. Most are private and expensive, clustered in Skopje. That leaves families, especially daughters and daughters-in-law—to shoulder the burden. This coupled with the fact that in our culture, it’s often seen as a moral duty for children, especially women to care for sick or aging parents at home. And that invisible expectation adds another layer of pressure on working-age women. Figure 5 shows the views on caring for ill parent.
Figure 5 – Views on caring for ill parent
Time is most men’s ally
Even when we look into the time-allocation between men and women Figure 6 particularly highlights that women spend considerably more time – about triple – on home activities – hence incorporating household chores, childcare and elderly-care, compared to men. This also limits the time women have to spend on free activities. At the prevailing minimum wage rate, the amount women spend on household-related activities translates into a created value as high as 25.3% of GDP.
Figure 6 – Time allocation by men and women in North Macedonia
Source: State Statistical Office – Time Use Survey (2014/15).
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
The issue isn’t simply about asking women to “lean in”, it’s about creating the conditions that allow them to participate in the workforce in the first place. While broad national strategies are important, below we provide a few practical, micro-level changes, especially at the firm level that can make a meaningful difference.
- Flexible Work Options: Companies can support employees by offering flexible working hours or remote work arrangements. This helps women balance job responsibilities with caregiving duties especially during important life stages like early motherhood.
- On-Site or Firm-Based Childcare: Instead of waiting for large-scale public childcare solutions, some firms could invest in small-scale childcare centers at or near the workplace. This lowers one of the major barriers to participation, especially for mothers of young children.
- Support for Single Mothers: Tailored initiatives, such as job training, financial support, or dedicated career counselling can help single mothers stay active in the labor market without compromising their caregiving role.
- Shifting Perceptions Through Awareness: Public education efforts, including school programs and media campaigns, can gradually reshape the perception that caregiving is solely a woman’s role. Changing social expectations is key to long-term progress.
Thank you for reading,
Until next time!
Data visualization for this post
I’ve put together an interesting data visualization for this release
Employed Americans continue working during lunch
What have I been reading lately?
Here are some interesting articles I read recently:
Digital corruption takes over DC
A Detailed Look at Trump’s Car Tariffs
Are Bond Vigilantes Buying Bitcoin?
Methodology
Suggested methodology: Arellano-Bond
This is post number 004. Any questions or suggestions related to calculations or the content of this blog can be submitted to theecondigest@gmail.com.
[1] Petreski, B., Petreski, M., Tanevski, S. (2025) BEHIND THE CURTAIN Cultural Norms, Gender Stereotypes and Work Attitudes Shaping Women’s Labour-Market Inactivity in North Macedonia