This article uses Iranian provincial census data for the Persian calendar years 1355, 1365, and 1375 (1976-7, 1986-7, and 1996-7) to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors and the participation of women in the labor force. Women’s participation dropped during the first decade under analysis. The decreasing trend was however reversed between 1365 and 1375. The highest rates of female participation were recorded for the provinces of Gilan, Yazd, and Charmahal-Bakhtiari. Ilam, Kohkiluyeh-Boyrahmad, and Hormozgan registered the lowest female participation rates. Reduced participation for age groups 12-10, 15-19, and 20-24 reveals a shift in the Structure of labor force. Overall, increases in the rates of female labor force participation were concurrent with reduced levels of educational attainment, reduced fertility rates, increased age of first marriage, and increased share of indvstrial workers in the labor force. Yet, the extent of the changes varied across provinces. Enhanced levels of female education, changes in the relative importance of economic sectors, and shifts in cultural and social milieu seem to have contributed to the developments in female labor force participation.
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