Dear Colleagues,

The 2014 G20 Summit resolved to reduce the gap in participation rates among men and women by 25% by 2025, as well as to bring more than 100 million women into the labor force. This statement was made as part of a broader declaration to create more jobs, especially quality jobs, increase participation rates, and boost economic growth. Thus, it specifically addresses not just job creation, but also posits that the gender gap present in labor markets presents an impediment to poverty reduction and results in greater inequality within societies.

Nevertheless, the emphasis placed on participation rates and employment masks the nuanced and heterogeneous nature of labor markets. Employability does not necessarily reflect an efficient allocation of resources, insofar as it may hide the phenomena of underemployment, overeducation, and job (dis)satisfaction. This is particularly more pressing when we consider gender differences within labor markets.

This Special Issue calls for papers that address not just the “orthodox” focus on employment, but also those that focus on the more “hidden” issues of employability, such as underemployment, overeducation, and job (dis)satisfaction, most of which also exhibit gender differences. This focus will give rise to a more holistic understanding of labor markets, aiding policymakers in articulating more effective strategies to not just improve labor market outcomes, but also to narrow the gender gap prevalent when studying labor market issues.

Parvinder Kler
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• gender issues within labor market
• unemployment
• participation rates
• underemployment
• overeducation
• job satisfaction