New Economy Forum
South African Women Gain on Men in Post-Apartheid Job Market
- Study shows gender wage gap has narrowed most in low-paid jobs
- South African women more likely to have tertiary education
A barista makes coffee in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
South African women have benefited more than men from changes in the labor market and education opportunities since the end of apartheid, according to a study published by the United Nations University.
The changes reflect the unraveling of the racist societal structure put in place during decades of institutional segregation that began in 1948 and limited the ability of women to travel to and live in cities. They also demonstrate the positive impact of minimum wages and affirmative-action laws that promote both racial and gender diversity in the workplace, Jacqueline Mosomi, a researcher at the University of Cape Town, said in the study.