ANALYSES OF THE GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE MACEDONIAN LABOUR MARKET AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The aim of the paper is to provide critical analysis of the current position of women in the Macedonian labor market and to point out the opportunities and barriers for Macedonian women entrepreneurs. The paper methodology is largely based on the classical methods of desk-based research of the available literature and data retrieved from comparable international databases such as Eurostat, GEM Special Report of Women’s Entrepreneurship, Female Entrepreneurship Index, and data from national sources. Women in North Macedonia still have lower participation in the labor force, suffer from higher rates of unemployment and women's entrepreneurship is underdeveloped and there is a lack of governmental support into concrete policies. Finances, lack of information, and knowledge of how to run and manage a business as well as the challenge to balance the work and family engagements are the main problems facing women entrepreneurs in the Republic of North Macedonia. Other constraints include socio-cultural barriers; barriers relating to networks of information and assistance, and access to finance and investment funds