Only 10.5% of women in Nigeria have salary-paying jobs – World Bank says

Only 10.5% of employed women in Nigeria are in wage and salaried jobs, according to a new report by the World Bank, highlighting deep structural imbalances in the country’s labour market.

The data, which reflects 2025 figures, shows that although a significant proportion of Nigerian women are economically active, most remain concentrated in informal and vulnerable forms of employment. Specifically, about 80.7% of women aged 15 and above participate in the labour force, yet the vast majority are engaged in jobs that offer limited income stability, job security, or social protection.

This imbalance becomes even more apparent when compared with men. The report shows that 17% of employed men in Nigeria are in wage-paying roles, notably higher than the 10.5% recorded for women. The gap widens further when Nigeria is compared with global benchmarks, where women’s participation in wage employment stands at 54.6%, and even at 16.9% across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The figures underscore a persistent trend: while women are working, they are far less likely to be in formal employment structures that guarantee steady income and legal protections.

Informal work dominates female employment

A major driver of this disparity is the high level of vulnerable employment among women. According to the report, 79.1% of female workers in Nigeria are engaged in vulnerable jobs, such as self-employment or unpaid family work, compared to 54.8% of men.

These roles, while contributing to economic activity, are often characterised by low productivity, irregular income, and lack of access to benefits such as pensions or health insurance. For many women, this type of work is not necessarily a choice but a result of systemic barriers that limit access to formal job opportunities.

Agriculture remains a significant employer, with 23.6% of women working in the sector. Although this is lower than the 42.7% recorded for men, it still reflects a heavy reliance on a sector typically associated with lower earnings and limited upward mobility.

The report identifies several structural constraints behind these patterns, including limited access to education and skills development, restricted access to capital, and social norms that influence women’s career paths and economic opportunities.

Legal, financial and social barriers persist

Beyond employment figures, the report highlights broader institutional challenges affecting women’s economic advancement. Under its Women, Business and the Law index, Nigeria scored 51%, indicating that women have just over half of the legal rights available to men.

Even where laws exist, implementation remains weak. The report estimates that only 49% of the frameworks needed to support gender-equal laws are in place, while actual enforcement operates at just 34% effectiveness. Notably, no significant reforms were introduced between October 2023 and October 2025 to address these gaps.

Financial inclusion, while improving, also reflects inequality. About 52.2% of women had access to financial accounts in 2024, compared to 74.3% of men. Similarly, fewer women reported saving through formal financial systems, limiting their ability to scale businesses or transition into more stable employment.

The report also points to broader social challenges that affect women’s economic participation, including high maternal mortality rates and early marriage. These factors often disrupt education and reduce long-term opportunities for women to engage in higher-value economic activities.

Falana blames courts, lawyers for ‘one-party drift’ after ADC ruling

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics further reinforces the structure of Nigeria’s labour market, where self-employment dominates. As of 2024, about 85.6% of the working population was self-employed, reflecting a system where formal wage jobs remain limited overall, but even less accessible to women.

The World Bank notes that addressing these disparities is essential for boosting productivity, reducing poverty, and achieving inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.