Only 10.5% of Nigerian women hold salary-paying jobs –World Bank

Nigeria’s labour market remains heavily skewed against women in formal employment, with only 10.5% of employed women in wage or salaried jobs as of 2025.

This is according to the World Bank’s latest gender data report.

The report shows that while 80.7% of Nigerian women aged 15 and above participate in the labour market, most work in informal or vulnerable jobs that offer limited income security and social protection.

The disparity is notable when compared with men, 17% of whom hold wage-paying positions, and also lags behind regional and global averages.

Sub-Saharan Africa averages 16.9%, lower-middle-income countries 26.5%, and the global average is 54.6%.

Women are disproportionately engaged in vulnerable employment, with 79.1% in self-employment or unpaid family work, compared to 54.8% of men.

Agriculture remains a significant sector for women, employing 23.6% of female workers, though earnings are often low.

Youth employment data shows female unemployment at 6.29% in 2025, below the Sub-Saharan African average of 11%, while 13.4% of young women are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

The World Bank highlights systemic barriers, including skills gaps, limited access to capital, and social constraints. Under its Women, Business and the Law index, Nigeria scored 51%, indicating that women enjoy just over half of the legal rights afforded to men.

Enforcement of these rights is estimated at only 34%.

Access to financial services remains uneven: 52.2% of women held financial accounts in 2024 compared to 74.3% of men, while only 36.5% of women saved through formal or mobile channels.

Broader social challenges, such as high maternal mortality (993 deaths per 100,000 live births) and adolescent fertility (86.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15–19), further limit women’s economic participation.

The World Bank added that improving gender equality in employment is essential for boosting productivity, reducing poverty, and achieving inclusive prosperity in Nigeria.