Women’s Employment in Nepal: Accelerate Action Now

As the world marks International Women’s Day 2025, this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” calls for immediate and decisive steps to bridge gender gaps in various sectors, including employment. At the current rate of progress, full gender parity won’t be achieved until 2158, roughly five generations from now (World Economic Forum, 2025). This alarming reality highlights the need to take swift action to remove systemic barriers and biases preventing women from achieving economic independence.

In Nepal, only 28.7% of women actively participate in the labor force compared to 53.9% of men (World Bank, 2024). Women continue to face wage disparities, limited access to formal jobs, and an overwhelming burden of unpaid domestic work. Now is the time to accelerate action and create equitable job opportunities.

The Current State of Women’s Employment in Nepal

Gender Gaps in Workforce Participation

Women’s workforce participation rate is significantly lower at 28.7% compared to men's 53.9% (World Bank, 2024).
Social norms, restricted mobility, and gender biases limit women’s access to formal employment.
The slow rate of progress demands urgent action to create inclusive job policies that encourage women to enter and stay in the workforce.

Wage Disparity and Limited Career Growth

Women are predominantly employed in low-paying, informal sectors, restricting their financial independence.
The lack of equal pay policies continues to be a major hurdle to economic equality.
Nepal’s job market must accelerate efforts to ensure merit-based hiring and transparent wage structures.

Relatable: Minimum wage in Nepal

The Double Burden of Work and Household Responsibilities

Women in Nepal spend significantly more time in unpaid domestic and care work, reducing their availability for paid employment (World Bank, 2024).
Flexible work policies, remote job options, and employer-supported childcare can help remove these barriers.
Without urgent action, these systemic challenges will continue to hold women back.

Relatable: Provision related to Leaves in Nepal

Accelerating Action for Women’s Employment in Nepal

To address these issues, Nepal must take bold and immediate steps to close the gender employment gap. Some key areas of action include:

Enforcing Equal Pay Laws – Wage gaps must be eliminated through strict policy implementation.
Encouraging Women in Leadership – Businesses should actively promote female leaders.
Investing in Skills Training – Women must have access to upskilling and career advancement programs.
Strengthening Workplace Policies – Maternity benefits, childcare support, and safe work environments must be prioritized.
Implementing Inclusive Hiring – Employers and job platforms must ensure fair evaluation and equal opportunities for all.

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How Merojob Supports Gender-Inclusive Employment

As one of Nepal’s most trusted job portals, Merojob is actively working to accelerate action for gender equality in the workplace. By leveraging technology and fair hiring practices, Merojob ensures that women have equal access to job opportunities, free from bias.

A Transparent and Unbiased Hiring Platform

Merojob ensures that women job seekers can explore and apply for positions based on skills and experience without facing gender discrimination.

AI-Driven Fair Hiring System

With its AI-powered applicant sorting, Merojob categorizes job seekers based on good fit, probable fit, and most suitable fit, ensuring that women are fairly evaluated based on merit.

Relatable: Merojob AI- Application Tracking System

A Women-Led Workforce at Merojob

Merojob itself stands as a model for gender equality, with over 50% of its workforce comprised of women. This demonstrates that, when given opportunities, women thrive in leadership roles, technology, and business development.

The time for small steps is over; we must take bold strides to accelerate action for gender equality now.

As we observe International Women’s Day 2025, the urgency to Accelerate Action for gender equality in Nepal’s workforce has never been greater. With significant gaps in labor force participation, wages, and workplace policies, swift measures are necessary to ensure women have equal access to opportunities. By enforcing fair hiring practices, improving workplace policies, and supporting women’s career growth, Nepal can speed up progress toward true gender parity.

The time for waiting is over; it’s time to act.

Thank you for reading this blog. We hope it helped you to understand about Women’s Employment in Nepal. For more job-related tips, you can subscribe to our Newsletter The Best Career Guide, on LinkedIn so that you get a step ahead in your Job Search as well as in your career.

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