Females in Tanzania constitute more than half of both the total population and working age population and by extension should participate more in the labour force than men. However, labour force participation rate in Tanzania has always been higher among males than among females, fertility being among the causative factor. It is argued that higher fertility rate may reduce FLFP because less time is available to take care of children. Others also suggest higher fertility rate may increase FLFP to generate more resources to take care of children. It is for this reason; the study aimed at analysing fertility and its effect on female labour force participation in Tanzania for women aged 15-49 years, thriving on the recent TDHS 2015-2016. In the first objective, the study analysed the determinants of fertility, employing the ZIP model to account for fertility of women without children. The study found that, education of a woman, marital status of never being in a union and not living together, wealth quintiles and media usage (radio and newspaper) had a negative effect on fertility of women with one or more children. Conversely, age, married women, contraceptive use, household size, rural place of residence had a positive effect on fertility of women with one or more children. Regarding women with zero births; contraceptive use, age, primary and higher education had a significant negative effect while rural place of residence, richest wealth quintile and women never in a union showed a significant positive effect. In the second objective, the study analysed the effect of fertility on FLFP using IV probit model to control for the endogeneity of fertility in the labour force participation equation. The study findings showed that fertility negatively affects FLFP by 7.6 percentage points. In addition, wealth quintiles, married marital status indicated a significant negative effect on FLFP. On the other hand, higher education, not living together with a partner, contraceptive use, age of a woman, rural place of residence, household size and access to media showed a significant positive effect on FLFP. Based on the findings, the study recommended at increasing education levels particularly higher education through establishing a re-entry policy to allow pregnant primary and secondary female students to be allowed to continue with their studies after giving birth. In addition, more investments on female menstrual hygiene, scholarship programmes on education should be made. Moreover, anti-discriminatory laws and bylaws should be enforced. Lastly, access to mass media (radios and newspapers) should be enhanced.

A Research submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for an Award of Masters of Science in Project Planning and Management of Mzumbe University