Labour Market Participation: How Do Men and Women Compare in South Africa?

Throughout history, industries have evolved, from the invention of hand axes by our ancient ancestors to the Internet of Things, which has profoundly influenced every aspect of life. Despite these advancements, women still encounter numerous obstacles in making ends meet. The crux of this study is to highlight key areas where meaningful gender equality can be achieved. This consists of, among other things, working hours, access to social protection, and occupational segregation. We find substantial gender disparities in the labour force, both in terms of the number and quality of jobs. Although there are more women in the working-age population than men, men's participation in the labour force significantly surpasses that of women. Consequently, a higher proportion of men are in paid employment compared to women. In terms of employment conditions, we find that gender gaps have reduced, indicating that men and women now work under similar terms and conditions compared to a decade ago. Similarly, we find that gender disparities in political representation have somewhat narrowed in the last decade. Given the challenges that women face in navigating the labour market, a crucial intervention should focus on enhancing the employability of women. Employability refers to the skills and attributes that make individuals more appealing to employers and empower them to successfully navigate the job market and workplace. Other interventions should aim to promote a work-family balance for women by providing them with access to adequate social protection measures, considering that the majority of unpaid family care responsibilities fall on women.