New data reveals deep gender gaps in employment quality, with most women trapped in informal and vulnerable work…..
Nigeria’s labour market continues to tilt sharply against women, with new data showing that only a small fraction are employed in stable, salaried roles despite high participation in economic activities.
According to the latest gender data report by the World Bank, just 10.5% of employed Nigerian women were in wage and salaried jobs as of 2025. The figure underscores a broader pattern: while many women are working, most are concentrated in informal, low-paying, and insecure jobs.
High participation, low-quality jobs
The report highlights a striking contrast. About 80.7% of Nigerian women aged 15 and above are active in the labour market, yet the majority remain in roles that offer little income stability or social protection.
Compared to men, the gap is clear. Around 17.0% of employed men are in wage-paying jobs significantly higher than the share for women.
The disparity becomes even more pronounced when placed in a global context. Women’s wage employment in Nigeria falls well below:
- Sub-Saharan Africa average:9%
- Lower-middle-income countries:5%
- Global average:6%
These gaps point to persistent structural barriers limiting women’s access to formal employment.
Vulnerable work dominates
A large proportion of Nigerian women are trapped in what the report classifies as vulnerable employment. About 79.1% of female workers fall into this category, compared to 54.8% of men.
This includes self-employment and unpaid family work roles typically associated with:
- Irregular income
- Limited job security
- Little or no legal protection
Agriculture also remains a key employer. Roughly 23.6% of working women are engaged in the sector. While this is lower than the 42.7% recorded for men, it still reflects the heavy reliance on low-productivity activities for female employment.
Mixed signals for young women
Among younger Nigerians, the picture is somewhat mixed. Female youth unemployment stood at 6.29% in 2025, lower than regional and global averages. Male youth unemployment was even lower at 4.42%.
However, a concerning indicator is the share of young women not in education, employment, or training (NEET), which stands at 13.4%, suggesting many remain excluded from productive opportunities altogether.
Legal and structural barriers persist
Beyond employment figures, the report points to systemic issues that continue to limit women’s economic advancement.
Under the Women, Business and the Law index, Nigeria scored 51%, indicating that women enjoy just over half of the legal rights available to men.
Implementation gaps are also significant:
- Only 49% of required support frameworks are in place
- Enforcement stands at just 34% effectiveness
Notably, no major reforms were recorded between October 2023 and October 2025 to address these shortcomings.
Financial inclusion gap remains
Access to financial services has improved, but disparities persist. In 2024:
- 2% of women had financial accounts
- Compared to 3% of men
Savings patterns show a similar trend, with 36.5% of women saving through formal channels, versus 50.2% of men.
Limited access to finance continues to hinder women’s ability to expand businesses or transition into more stable employment.
Wider social challenges weigh on progress
The report also highlights broader development issues affecting women’s productivity and economic outcomes.
Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains alarmingly high at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, while adolescent fertility stands at 86.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15–19.
In addition, 30.3% of women aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18 factors that often disrupt education and limit access to higher-value economic opportunities.
Why it matters
The World Bank stresses that closing gender gaps in employment is not just a social priority but an economic one. Improving women’s access to quality jobs could significantly boost productivity, reduce poverty, and drive inclusive growth.
Data gaps remain
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s labour market data remains outdated. The National Bureau of Statistics has not released a new Labour Force Survey since November 2024.
The last available report (Q2 2024) showed that 85.6% of Nigeria’s working population is self-employed, highlighting the dominance of informal work across the economy. It also placed the unemployment rate at 4.3%, reflecting a slight decline from earlier in the year.
As the numbers show, the challenge is no longer just getting women into the workforce, it’s ensuring they have access to secure, well-paying, and formal jobs that can truly transform livelihoods.
