Stats SA data exposes South Africa’s workplace gender divide

According to new Statistics South Africa data, women comprise 44% of employed individuals in South Africa, but their workplace distribution varies significantly across sectors. Women make up more than half of workers in personal services, accommodation, food, beverage, and retail trade, yet remain underrepresented in construction, mining, transport, storage, and the motor trade.

The analysis, based on the agency's structural industry surveys, reveals that while women are highly represented in certain industries, gender representation also varies within industries. For instance, women account for more than 70% of jobs in social work and hospital, medical, and dental activities. Conversely, construction stands out as particularly male-dominated, with women underrepresented across the industry.

Interestingly, women are broadly underrepresented in manufacturing but make up more than 60% of jobs in textiles and clothing. Similarly, while the transport and storage industry employs few women, they occupy more than 60% of jobs in travel agencies. Within personal services, which have the highest overall female representation, women are underrepresented in sporting activities, with only a third of employment, compared to three-quarters in social work.

The data also highlights the challenges faced by women entering the workforce. With a working-age population of 42.3 million, women represent just over half (52%) but have an unemployment rate of 37.5%, compared to 30.3% for men. Young women aged 15 to 24 have an even higher unemployment rate of 38.2%, compared to 34.6% for young men.

Additionally, women's representation in managerial occupations stands at only 70%, while men occupy 10% of such roles. At the highest corporate levels, women hold 38% of board seats among JSE Top 40 companies, but only 27.4% of executive roles. Although nine companies have reached gender parity on their boards, only three have female CEOs and six have female board chairs.

Research from SNG Grant Thornton shows a brighter picture in leadership positions, with women comprising almost half of senior management roles in South Africa, much higher than the global average of one-third. Women are more concentrated in clerical work, which accounts for 17% of female employment compared to 5.8% for men. Domestic work represents 10.8% of employed women, while men account for just 0.5% in this field.