Nearly half of SA women unemployed - Stats SA

Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2022 on Tuesday morning.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.6% to 33.9%.

Maluleke says 47% of South African women were recorded as economically inactive.

This means that almost half of working-age women are out of the workforce - compared to 35,6% of their male counterparts.

Maluleke says global statistics have shown that women who are looking for work have a tougher time finding a job than men.

"This phenomenon is more pronounced in South Africa, with higher unemployment rates for the general population as compared to the rest of the world.

“The latest global labour force participation rate for women is about 47% compared to 72% for men . The productive potential of South Africa women in the labour market remains unused.”

Maluleke says women who do find work are usually employed in vulnerable employment often characterised by inadequate earnings, low productivity and difficult work conditions compared to men. 

Meanwhile, Chief Economist at Efficient Group Dawie Roodt says it will take generations for South Africa to close the gender employment gap.

"I think the gender issue in South Africa will remain for a very long time, it will take a long time, it might even take generations to get the genders on par. There could be a bit of change in the short term, but I am afraid that the reality of very high levels of unemployment will still be with us for many years to come.”

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