SA women struggle the most as unemployment hits new peaks
Unemployment is still on the rise in South Africa, with women continuing to face higher levels of unemployment and underemployment compared to men.
Women in South Africa continue to experience significantly higher rates of unemployment and underemployment compared to men, along with lower workforce participation.
Limited opportunities in the labour market for women
South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased by more than 60% in the last 10 years. SA women are still facing more challenges in the job market than men.
This unequal situation is largely due to the fact that women often have to manage household chores, take care of children, and handle other responsibilities, restricting their chances of finding work. According to Statistics South Africa, the trends in labour force participation and absorption rates for SA men and women from 2014 to 2024 indicate that fewer women have been participating in the labour market compared to men.
Although the data shows a narrowing of the gender gap in labour force participation, there is still a notable difference between genders.
Absorption rate also lower for women
The labour absorption rate to population ratio is the proportion of the working-age population who are employed.
The absorption rate for women remained below 40.0%. It declined by 1.1% from 36.9% in the second quarter of 2014 to 35.8% in 2024.
Labour absorption rates for women declined across all education levels between Q2:2014 and Q2:2024. There were more significant drops among those with tertiary qualifications and those with a matric qualification. Surprisingly, the decline was less pronounced for graduates and women with less than a matric qualification.
Statistics South Africa stated that there is an ‘ongoing struggle for gender equality’ and an ‘urgent need to address gender disparities in various spheres, particularly in the labour market’.
“These disparities not only affect women’s economic independence but also limit overall economic growth.”
Statistics South Africa
What is the gender gap in the labour market in other countries?
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, equality in the worldwide labour market has improved. Even though women’s participation in the workforce is improving worldwide, the progress towards equality varies greatly depending on the region.
The World Economic Forum predicts that unemployment will increase in lower-income countries, and the jobs gap, which looks at a wider range of people seeking employment, shows that a significant number of those affected are women.