Ms Tebello Msimanga
Abstract
Women in South Africa continue to be disproportionately affected by unemployment, a challenge deeply embedded in structural gender inequality. This paper offers a conceptual and methodological perspective on the relationship between gender inequality and unemployment in the South African context. Drawing on feminist economics, Human Capital Theory, and Dual Labour Market Theory, the study examines how historical legacies, socio-economic structures, and entrenched cultural norms combine to exclude women from full and meaningful participation in the labour market. Persistent barriers, including gendered occupational segregation, wage disparities, unequal access to education and skills development, and limited support for care responsibilities, are identified as core drivers of the gendered employment gap.
While no primary data are collected or analysed in this paper, it provides a detailed methodological roadmap for future empirical investigation. The proposed framework incorporates macroeconomic variables such as GDP growth, inflation, educational attainment, labour force participation, and structural inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient). Econometric approaches, including Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models and Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimators, are outlined for subsequent implementation.
As a conceptual paper, the contribution lies in synthesising existing literature, integrating complementary theoretical perspectives, and framing a forward-looking methodological design that can be applied in later phases of research. The analysis positions gender inequality as a structural constraint to economic development and argues for urgent, gender-responsive labour market reforms. The study’s insights aim to guide policymakers, managers, and development practitioners in designing inclusive strategies that address the systemic nature of female unemployment in South Africa.
While no primary data are collected or analysed in this paper, it provides a detailed methodological roadmap for future empirical investigation. The proposed framework incorporates macroeconomic variables such as GDP growth, inflation, educational attainment, labour force participation, and structural inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient). Econometric approaches, including Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models and Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimators, are outlined for subsequent implementation.
As a conceptual paper, the contribution lies in synthesising existing literature, integrating complementary theoretical perspectives, and framing a forward-looking methodological design that can be applied in later phases of research. The analysis positions gender inequality as a structural constraint to economic development and argues for urgent, gender-responsive labour market reforms. The study’s insights aim to guide policymakers, managers, and development practitioners in designing inclusive strategies that address the systemic nature of female unemployment in South Africa.