Women's Economic Autonomy in Pakistan: Workplace Security, Income Control, and Financial Decision-Making

Abstract

Women's economic autonomy depends not only on employment and income generation but also on their ability to control earnings and participate in financial decisions. This study examines the associations of workplace security, control over personal income, and financial decision-making with women's economic autonomy in Karachi, Pakistan. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed, using data from 439 respondents collected between March and July 2026. The analysis involved descriptive statistics, scale reliability assessment, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression. The findings indicate that control over personal income and financial decision-making were positively and significantly associated with economic autonomy, whereas workplace security showed no significant independent association. The regression model explained 12.3% of the variation in economic autonomy. These results highlight the importance of distinguishing employment conditions from w           omen's financial agency. Although workplace security remains an important aspect of employment quality, the findings suggest that women's control over earnings and participation in financial decisions are more directly associated with their perceived economic autonomy in the estimated model. The study contributes context-specific evidence on women's economic agency in Pakistan and underscores the value of examining financial control and decision-making alongside employment-related conditions. Its cross-sectional design and geographical focus limit causal interpretation and wider generalization.