World Bank: only 10.5 per cent of Nigerian women in paid employment
By Collins Nweze, Assistant Editor The World Bank’s latest gender data report has described Nigeria’s labour market as heavily skewed against women in formal employment, with only 10.5 per cent
By Collins Nweze, Assistant Editor
The World Bank’s latest gender data report has described Nigeria’s labour market as heavily skewed against women in formal employment, with only 10.5 per cent of employed women in wage and salaried jobs as of 2025.
The report highlights the dominance of informal and vulnerable work among women, despite relatively high participation in the labour force.
The World Bank report shows that while 80.7 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 and above are active in the labour market, most are concentrated in low-quality jobs that offer little income security or social protection.
The disparity becomes more pronounced when compared with men. About 17 per cent of employed men in Nigeria are in wage and salaried roles, significantly higher than the 10.5 per cent recorded for women.
This gap also extends beyond Nigeria when benchmarked against peers.
Women’s wage employment in Nigeria trails the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 16.9 per cent, lower-middle-income countries at 26.5 per cent, and the global average of 54.6 per cent.
The data shows structural barriers limiting women’s access to formal employment, including skills gaps, limited access to capital, and social constraints that push many into informal or unpaid roles.
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The report shows that Nigerian women are disproportionately engaged in vulnerable employment, with 79.1 per cent of female workers in such roles compared to 54.8 per cent of men.
Vulnerable employment typically includes self-employment and unpaid family work, often lacking job security, stable income, and legal protections.
Also, a significant share of women remain in agriculture.
About 23.6 per cent of employed women work in the agricultural sector, compared to 42.7 per cent of men.
While the female share in agriculture is lower than men’s, the sector still represents a major source of employment for women, often characterised by low productivity and earnings.
The report also highlights trends among young people.
Female youth unemployment stood at 6.29 per cent in 2025, lower than the 11 per cent average for Sub-Saharan Africa and 14.9 per cent globally.
Male youth unemployment was even lower at 4.42 per cent, indicating relatively better outcomes for young men.
However, the share of young women not in education, employment or training (NEET) was 13.4 per cent, suggesting that a significant number remain outside productive engagement.
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Beyond labour market indicators, the World Bank report points to systemic constraints limiting women’s economic participation.
Under its Women, Business and the Law index, Nigeria scored 51 per cent, meaning women enjoy just over half of the legal rights afforded to men.
Support systems for implementing gender-equal laws remain weak, with only 49 per cent of the necessary frameworks in place.
Even more concerning, enforcement of these rights is estimated at just 34 per cent of its full potential.
The report noted that no reforms were introduced between October 2023 and October 2025 to address these gaps.
Access to financial services shows some progress but remains uneven.
About 52.2 per cent of women had accounts at financial institutions in 2024, compared to 74.3 per cent of men.
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Similarly, 36.5 per cent of women reported saving through financial institutions or mobile money, lower than 50.2 per cent for men.
Limited financial inclusion continues to restrict women’s ability to transition into formal employment or scale businesses.
The report also highlights broader social indicators affecting women’s productivity.
Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio remains high at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above global averages.
Adolescent fertility stands at 86.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, while 30.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 were married before age 18.
These factors contribute to lower educational attainment and reduced participation in higher-value economic activities.
The World Bank noted that improving gender equality outcomes is critical to boosting productivity, reducing poverty, and achieving shared prosperity in Nigeria.
