Digital Skills Could Boost Women’s Employment in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon: Study

Digital technology may be quietly transforming labor markets in parts of the Middle East, offering new opportunities for women who have long faced barriers to employment. A new study by researchers from the World Bank, Texas A&M University, and Lahore University of Management Sciences examines how digital skills and technology use affect women's work prospects in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. These countries form part of the Mashreq region, where female labor force participation remains among the lowest globally despite relatively high levels of education among women.

For much of modern economic history, technological change has tended to favor male workers. Early industrial technologies often relied on physical strength and drew men into factory work, while women were pushed toward lower-paying roles or informal work. Digital technology, however, works differently. Because it relies more on knowledge, communication, and connectivity than physical labor, it has the potential to reshape traditional patterns of employment and reduce some gender barriers.

Digital Skills and Employment Opportunities

To understand how digital technology affects work opportunities, the researchers analyzed survey data from more than 4,500 people aged 18 to 65 across Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. The survey collected information about digital access, technology use, employment, education, and household conditions.

The research team created two measures to capture digital capability. One measure assessed digital skills, including abilities such as computer literacy, word processing, communication tools, data entry, and more advanced tasks like content creation or coding. The second measure captured digital technology use, such as owning an email account or using online banking services. Together, these indicators formed what the researchers called "digital capital," reflecting both the ability to use digital tools and how frequently people rely on them.

The findings show a clear pattern: people with stronger digital skills and higher technology use are more likely to be employed. More importantly, this relationship appears stronger for women than for men. Women who use digital tools or possess higher digital skills show a larger increase in the likelihood of working compared with men who have similar levels of digital adoption.

Earnings Gains in Key Sectors

Digital technology not only influences employment chances; it can also affect earnings. The study finds that digital technology use is associated with higher income levels in several sectors, particularly in administration, education, and healthcare. In these areas, women who use digital tools tend to earn significantly more compared with women who have lower levels of digital adoption.

In other industries, digital technology appears to increase earnings for both men and women, though the difference between genders is less pronounced. These results suggest that digital tools can improve productivity and job performance, especially in sectors where technology plays a larger role in daily work tasks.

Removing Barriers to Women's Work

One of the most significant challenges facing women in the Mashreq is the set of social and practical barriers that limit labor force participation. According to the survey, childcare and family responsibilities remain the most common reasons women report for not working. Men, in contrast, are more likely to say that the lack of suitable jobs is their main obstacle.

The study suggests that digital skills may help reduce some of these barriers. Women with stronger digital capabilities report fewer limitations related to transportation, workplace environment, or family responsibilities. Digital tools can support flexible work arrangements, online services, and remote communication, making it easier for women to balance work and family responsibilities.

Online safety is another factor that shapes women's participation in digital environments. Women often face greater risks of harassment or abuse online. The research shows that individuals with stronger digital skills tend to adopt more safety practices when using the internet, such as secure browsing and password protection. This effect appears particularly strong among women, suggesting that digital literacy can help them navigate online spaces more confidently.

The Promise of Remote and Online Work

Remote work is often viewed as a potential solution for women facing mobility or caregiving constraints. However, the study finds that remote work remains relatively rare in the Mashreq region. Most survey respondents reported never having worked remotely, even among those with higher education levels.

Still, digital skills significantly increase the chances of remote work experience. Individuals with stronger digital capabilities are more likely to have worked remotely at some point. Although men remain slightly more likely than women to work remotely, improving digital skills could help expand remote employment opportunities in the future.

Digital technology also influences how people use the internet. Individuals with higher digital skills are more likely to engage in productive online activities such as job searching, training, online learning, financial services, and digital commerce. Women appear to benefit strongly from these opportunities, suggesting that digital platforms could create new pathways for entrepreneurship and professional development.

Building an Inclusive Digital Future

The researchers also identified a group of people who understand the importance of digital skills but do not know where to obtain training. Many individuals believe digital capabilities are essential for employment yet lack information about available learning opportunities. Expanding awareness of digital training programs could therefore unlock a large pool of motivated learners.

Interviews with employers, policymakers, and training organizations confirm that digital skills gaps remain a major challenge across the region. Stakeholders also highlighted persistent gender stereotypes, limited mobility, childcare responsibilities, and gaps in digital infrastructure as barriers that restrict women's participation in the workforce.

Despite these challenges, the research suggests that digital technology could become a powerful driver of change. By expanding access to digital skills training, strengthening internet infrastructure, and supporting flexible work models, governments and development organizations may help women overcome long-standing employment barriers and participate more fully in the region's growing digital economy.