The Effects of Household Water Access on Employment in SSA: Is There a Gender Difference?

Abstract

Several of the Millennium Development Goals stress the importance of working for improved drinking water, gender equality and employment to improve the life of people as well as creating growth in developing countries. Literature suggests investments in infrastructure increase the probability of employment. This study aims at investigating the relationship between having the major source of water for household use close and the likelihood of being employed. Furthermore, using a Probit model, it investigates whether the effect of water access is larger for women. The results display a positive correlation between water access and employment but cannot conclude a gender difference in the effect. The relationship between water and likelihood of employment provides an incentive for future investments in infrastructure in general and water infrastructure in particular in order to enhance labor force participation overall.