Almost half of the working age women in SA are out of the labour force compared with 35.6% of their male counterparts, the latest quarterly labour survey shows. File photo.The labour market continues to favour men and shows no signs of making real progress towards improving prospects for women.The productive potential of women in the labour market remains unused.
In 2022, 47% of women in the country were recorded as economically inactive, with Stats SA noting, “This means that almost half of the working age women in SA are out of the labour force compared to 35.6% of their male counterparts.Women who do find work are usually employed in vulnerable employment — characterised by inadequate earnings, low productivity and difficult work conditions, said Stats SA.