World Bank Report Exposes Stark Gender Gap in Nigerian Formal Employment
A new World Bank gender data report has revealed a concerning disparity in Nigeria's labor market, with only 10.5% of employed women holding wage and salaried jobs as of 2025. This figure underscores the profound gender gap in access to formal employment, as less than 11 out of every 100 employed women are in stable, paid positions.
Informal Work Dominates Female Employment
The report highlights that although a substantial 80.7% of Nigerian women aged 15 and above are economically active, the majority are concentrated in informal and vulnerable work. These roles offer limited income security and social protection, pushing many women into precarious employment situations.
In contrast, 17% of employed men are in wage and salaried roles, which is 6.5 percentage points higher than the rate for women. This gap is even more pronounced when viewed against global and regional benchmarks.
Nigeria Lags Behind Global and Regional Averages
Nigeria's performance in women's wage employment falls significantly below key benchmarks. The sub-Saharan Africa average stands at 16.9%, while lower-middle-income countries average 26.5%. Globally, the average is a stark 54.6%, indicating Nigeria's substantial lag in formal job access for women.
The World Bank attributes this disparity to structural barriers, including skills gaps, limited access to capital, and restrictive social norms that hinder women's entry into formal jobs. These constraints persistently channel women into informal or unpaid roles.
Vulnerable Employment and Sectoral Distribution
The report further details that 79.1% of female workers are engaged in vulnerable employment, compared to 54.8% of men. Such jobs, encompassing self-employment and unpaid family work, typically lack job security, stable income, and legal protections.
In terms of sectoral distribution, 23.6% of employed women work in agriculture, versus 42.7% of men. While agriculture remains a major employer for women, it is often characterized by low productivity and earnings, further exacerbating economic vulnerabilities.
Youth Employment and Legal Frameworks
Examining youth employment trends, the report shows female youth unemployment at 6.29% in 2025, lower than the sub-Saharan Africa average of 11% and the global rate of 14.9%. Male youth unemployment was lower at 4.42%.
However, concerns arise around disengagement, with 13.4% of young women not in education, employment, or training, indicating a significant number remain outside productive engagement.
On legal and institutional frameworks, Nigeria scored 51% on the Women, Business and the Law Index, meaning women have just over half of the legal rights available to men. Support systems for implementing gender-equal laws stand at 49%, while enforcement is estimated at only 34%.
Alarmingly, no reforms were introduced between October 2023 and October 2025 to address these gaps, highlighting persistent systemic constraints on women's economic participation.
Financial Inclusion and Broader Social Challenges
In terms of financial inclusion, the report shows moderate progress but notes persistent disparities. About 52.2% of women had accounts with financial institutions in 2024, compared to 74.3% of men. Similarly, 36.5% of women reported saving through formal channels, against 50.2% of men.
Limited access to finance continues to restrict women's ability to transition into formal employment or expand businesses. The report also highlights broader social challenges affecting women's productivity, such as Nigeria's maternal mortality ratio estimated at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, adolescent fertility at 86.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19, and 30.3% of women aged 20 to 24 married before age 18.
