Afghan Women's Labour Market Share Falls to 5% Under Taliban
· business
Women’s Share of Afghan Labour Market Shrinks to 5% Under Taliban, UN Says
The International Labour Organization’s latest report on Afghanistan’s labor market paints a stark picture of a country in economic decline. The regime’s draconian policies have systematically sabotaged economic prospects, with women’s share of the workforce dwindling to an abysmal 5%.
Female labor force participation has plummeted from 16.5% in 2020 to less than a third of that number in 2026. This catastrophic decline reflects a systemic effort by the Taliban to restrict women’s access to education and employment. The ILO’s senior coordinator, Tite Habiyakare, describes this phenomenon as “severe exclusion,” which has far-reaching consequences for Afghanistan’s economic resilience.
The statistics are alarming: with 95% of women shut out of the workforce, it’s little wonder that the country’s overall employment numbers have failed to keep pace with rapid population growth. Despite a modest increase in total employment – from 8.2 million in 2022 to 8.5 million in 2026 – this growth has been driven by an influx of returning Afghan migrants rather than any significant expansion of the domestic labor market.
Women’s exclusion from traditional employment has led to a surge in entrepreneurship, with the number of women-owned businesses increasing ten-fold since the Taliban takeover, according to the U.N. Development Programme. This trend underscores both female ingenuity and desperation, as well as the Taliban’s failure to provide meaningful opportunities for women within the formal economy.
By systematically excluding half its population from economic activity, Afghanistan is perpetuating a culture of dependency, where individuals rely on state handouts or foreign aid rather than generating their own income through productive work. This hampers economic growth and erodes the social fabric, as women’s contributions to family and community well-being are stifled by their confinement to limited entrepreneurial pursuits.
The international community must take a closer look at Afghanistan’s economy, beyond simplistic narratives of “reconstruction” or “development.” Focusing on the Taliban’s toxic policies towards women reveals the full extent of the regime’s economic sabotage. The ILO report starkly illustrates that Afghanistan cannot hope to build a resilient labor market while such a large share of its population remains excluded from economic activity.
The international community must now decide whether it will continue to acquiesce in this state of affairs or take concrete steps to challenge the Taliban’s destructive ideology. If Afghanistan continues down this path, its economy – and with it, its people – will suffer catastrophic consequences.
Reader Views
- TNThe Newsroom Desk · editorial
The ILO's report on Afghanistan's labor market highlights a glaring contradiction: while women have been forced out of traditional employment, they're adapting by starting their own businesses in droves. This surge in female entrepreneurship is not a success story, but a symptom of a broken system that prioritizes survival over sustainable economic growth. To truly address the issue, international aid and development programs must focus on creating an enabling environment for women's participation, rather than just providing Band-Aid solutions to alleviate poverty.
- DHDr. Helen V. · economist
The Taliban's draconian policies have crippled Afghanistan's economy, but what's often overlooked is that women's exclusion from the workforce isn't just an issue of equality – it's a matter of efficiency. With 95% of women sidelined, the country is failing to tap into its most educated and skilled population. This isn't just about fairness; it's about productivity. If the Taliban truly wants to rebuild Afghanistan, they need to recognize that including women in the economy is essential for growth and development, not just a moral imperative.
- MTMarcus T. · small-business owner
The Taliban's economic policy is nothing short of catastrophic for Afghan women. We're told that 95% of women are shut out of the workforce, but what about those who've managed to start their own businesses? While entrepreneurship is a lifeline for many, it's not a substitute for meaningful employment opportunities. The surge in female-owned businesses is actually a testament to the regime's failure to provide a stable economy and decent jobs – a recipe for long-term instability and dependency on foreign aid.