Taliban Restrictions Push Afghan Economy Deeper into Crisis as Women’s Labor Force Participation Falls to 5%
Kabul/Geneva: Restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women’s education, employment and participation in public life have further strained Afghanistan’s fragile economy. According to a recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Afghanistan’s labor market has experienced a severe deterioration since the Taliban returned to power.
ILO Report Highlights Historic Decline in Women’s Workforce Participation
The report indicates that Afghanistan has experienced significant economic contraction under Taliban rule, with women facing some of the most severe consequences. Female participation in the labor force has fallen dramatically, leaving Afghanistan among the countries with the lowest levels of women’s workforce participation worldwide.
Key Economic and Labor Market Indicators
Women’s Labor Force Participation: The share of women in the national labor force has reportedly declined from 16.5% to just 5%.
Loss of Education and Employment Opportunities: The proportion of women excluded from education, employment and vocational training has increased from 76% in 2020 to 84%.
Overall Employment-to-Population Ratio: Afghanistan’s overall employment-to-population ratio has fallen from 36.7% in 2020 to approximately 32.5%.
Growing Gender Gap: Restrictions on women’s access to workplaces and educational institutions have significantly widened the employment gap between men and women.
Economic Consequences of Restrictions on Women
The ILO assessment highlights the broader economic consequences of excluding women from education, employment and skills development. With a substantial portion of the population prevented from fully participating in economic activity, Afghanistan faces major challenges in achieving sustainable economic recovery.
Economists argue that meaningful and long-term economic development will remain difficult unless Afghan women are able to return to education, employment and broader economic life.