As I reflect on Women’s Month in South Africa, I can’t help but feel a mix of pride and concern. The phrase “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo” (“You strike a woman, you strike a rock”) resonates deeply, reminding us of the resilience and strength that women embody. We celebrate the remarkable achievements of South African women and the vital roles they play in our communities. But beneath these celebrations lies a troubling reality that we cannot ignore.
Despite the progress we’ve made, South African women continue to face a disproportionate burden when it comes to unemployment and inequality in the workforce. The harsh truth is that women are more likely to be sidelined due to household duties, child-rearing responsibilities, and other societal expectations that limit their opportunities in the job market. The gap between men and women in labour market participation remains wide, even as we move forward.
Looking at the labour force data from 2014 to 2024, it’s clear that while there’s been an overall increase in participation rates for both men and women, women still lag behind. In 2024, 55.8% of women were part of the labour force, up from 50.9% in 2014. While this is an improvement, it’s still lower than the participation rate for men.
Interestingly, women without a matric qualification or with a graduate degree saw the most significant increases in labour force participation over the past decade. However, this progress hasn’t translated into better job absorption rates. In fact, the absorption rate for women dropped slightly, from 36.9% in 2014 to 35.8% in 2024, meaning fewer women are finding employment despite more entering the labour market.
The situation becomes even starker when we examine unemployment rates. Over the past ten years, women have consistently faced higher unemployment rates than men, regardless of their education level. For women with other tertiary qualifications, unemployment has skyrocketed from 15.1% in 2014 to a staggering 26.9% in 2024. Even women with a matric certificate or a graduate degree have seen significant increases in unemployment.
What this data reveals is that the gap between labour force participation and actual job absorption is widening, with more people—especially women—entering the workforce but failing to find jobs. For men, this gap grew from 15.2 percentage points in 2014 to 20.7 percentage points in 2024. For women, the situation is even worse, with the gap increasing from 14.0 percentage points to 20.0 percentage points over the same period.
As we honour Women’s Day and Women’s Month, we must remember that the fight for gender equality is far from over. The persistent disparities in the labour market not only hinder women’s economic independence but also hold back our country’s economic growth. We must address these inequalities head-on, ensuring that all South African women have the opportunities they deserve to thrive in the workplace and beyond.
Let this be a call to action for all of us. Women are the backbone of our society, and it’s time we create a labour market that truly reflects their strength and potential.