Kabul (Monitoring Desk) — The negative economic impact of the Taliban government’s restrictions keeping women away from education, employment and social activities in Afghanistan has become increasingly evident. The International Labour Organization has released a new report on the country’s deteriorating economic situation and declining participation of women in the economy.
According to the report, the Afghan economy has contracted significantly since the Taliban came to power, while the labour market is also facing severe difficulties. Women’s share of Afghanistan’s labour force has fallen from 16.5 percent to just 5 percent.
According to the International Labour Organization, women’s participation in the labour force in Afghanistan is the second lowest in the world. Restrictions on women’s education and employment have further widened the employment gap between men and women.
The report said that Afghanistan’s employment-to-population ratio fell from 36.7 percent in 2020 to approximately 32.5 percent in 2026. Similarly, the proportion of women deprived of education, employment and vocational training increased from 76 percent to 84 percent.
According to International Labour Organization data, restrictions on women and other hardline policies have further deepened the crisis of an Afghan economy already struggling with severe difficulties.