Less than 11 out of every 100 employed women in Nigeria were in wage and salaried jobs as of 2025, underscoring the depth of the gender gap in access to formal employment, a new World Bank gender data report has said.

The report noted that although a large share of Nigerian women participate in the labour market, most are concentrated in informal and vulnerable work with limited income security and social protection.

It noted that 80.7 per cent of women aged 15 and above are economically active, but that few can access stable, paid employment.

According to the report, the gap is wider when compared with men, where 17 per cent of employed people are in wage and salaried roles. The figure is 6.5 percentage points higher than in the case of women.

It added that Nigeria also lags in global and regional benchmarks, with women’s wage employment below 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 World Bank attributed the disparity to structural barriers such as skills gaps, limited access to capital and social norms that restrict women’s entry into formal jobs.

It stated: “These constraints continue to push many women into informal or unpaid roles.”

The report also showed that 79.1 per cent of female workers are engaged in vulnerable employment, compared to 54.8 per cent of men. It explained that such jobs, including self-employment and unpaid family work, often lack job security, stable income and legal protection.

On sectoral distribution, the report said 23.6 per cent of employed women work in agriculture, compared to 42.7 per cent of men. While lower than men’s share, it noted that agriculture remains a major employer of women, often characterised by low productivity and earnings.

The report also examined youth employment trends, showing that female youth unemployment stood at 6.29 per cent in 2025, lower than the sub-Saharan Africa average of 11 per cent and the global rate of 14.9 per cent. Male youth unemployment was lower at 4.42 per cent.

However, it pointed to concerns around disengagement, noting that 13.4 per cent of young women are not in education, employment or training.

“A significant number remain outside productive engagement,” the report stated.

On legal and institutional frameworks, Nigeria scored 51 per cent on the Women, Business and the Law Index, indicating that women have just over half of the legal rights available to men.

The report said support systems for implementing gender-equal laws stand at 49 per cent, while enforcement is estimated at only 34 per cent.

It added that no reforms were introduced between October 2023 and October 2025 to address these gaps, highlighting persistent systemic constraints on women’s economic participation.

In terms of financial inclusion, the report showed moderate progress but noted persistent disparities. About 52.2 per cent of women had accounts with financial institutions in 2024, compared to 74.3 per cent of men.

Similarly, 36.5 per cent of women reported saving through formal channels, against 50.2 per cent of men.
The report said limited access to finance continues to restrict women’s ability to move into formal employment or expand businesses.

It also highlighted broader social challenges affecting women’s productivity. Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio was estimated at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, while adolescent fertility stood at 86.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19. It added that 30.3 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before age 18.