By Larry Claasen
SOUTH African women are educated, ambitious and dissatisfied with their jobs. They also want to be paid more and have flexibility when it comes to remote work. These are some of the key findings in the RecruitMyMom’s Working Women In South Africa Report 2024.
The goal of the report was to “research what women require to thrive in the evolving economy,” so as to provide businesses and HR managers with insights on how to attract and retain female talent.
The report, which interviewed 2 468 women, found that 66% of respondents had a tertiary education. Aside from being educated, it found that 47% of those sampled occupied mid to senior level jobs.
Not only were women well educated, they were outpacing their male counterparts when it came to educating themselves.
“In South Africa, a notable shift is underway as women outpace men in educational achievements.
Presently, 52% of individuals with post-secondary education are women, signalling a significant presence in higher learning.”
Given that the women interviewed tend to be educated and occupy mid to senior jobs, it’s almost unsurprising that they are ambitious, with 78% aspiring to grow in their careers.
The main reason driving their ambition was financial independence.
“It is evident that women have varied perceptions of financial independence. For some, it is the freedom to spend their income as they choose; for others, it is the ability to retire comfortably, and for another group, it signifies the ability to meet monthly expenses.”
But despite their rising levels of educated and growing ambition, the report found that women were dissatisfied. It sighted lack of opportunities, mentorship and pay discrimination as the main reasons they were unhappy.
Many women also felt they were discriminated against because of their age. Inflexible work policies also added to their unhappiness.
The report found that: “45% of women are looking for another job, potentially due to lack of internal growth.”
The research found that career advancement did not necessarily mean getting a promotion. It also meant “horizontal expansion” where high performers were fairly rewarded.
The report recommended that when it comes to attracting talent, businesses must consider offering a salary that enables them to be financially independent.
When it comes to remuneration, take home pay was not the only factor, as women ranked medical aid contribution, pension/provident fund contribution, and bonus as the top benefits they look for when considering a job.
Money was not the only deciding factor when it came to considering a job. Offering flexibility around remote work is also something women are looking for.
The report, however, noted that the concept of flexibility was often misunderstood.
“There is a whole array of types of flexibility, from micro-flexibility that gives women the freedom to ‘run the odd errand’ to fully remote with flexible hours, and a myriad of options in between. Empowering women to negotiate the type of flexibility that benefits both employers and employees holds significant potential for retaining high-calibre female talent.”
With 80% of women having dependants, embracing flexible work arrangements align businesses with the realities of modern life, noted the report.
https://www.recruitmymom.co.za/additional-services/working-women-south-africa-report-2024
