Work force partcipation.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

I found this interesting. China and Brazil have very high labor participation ratios, much higher than the United States, Canada and Australia. They also have high levels of participation of women in the labor force. Developing countries have both lower work force participation and a lower portion of women in the labor force.

Of course, in many countries women are not working in the formal work force but are working very hard on child care, cooking, obtaining food. collecting wood, drawing water, etc. One way that a country can progress is by simplifying many of these tasks -- automating the home, improving infrastructure (for energy, water and sewage), getting kids in school, so that women can join the formal workforce.

I looked this up because I heard someone from India say that as soon as family income increased enough, the woman of the home would leave the workforce, and that economic growth would make workforce participation less. More educated women in India, however, want to work outside the home.