Migrant Women in the Labour Force in South Africa: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

Abstract

Migrant women’s participation in the labor force is shaped by intersecting inequalities of gender, migration status, and class. Despite these structural constraints, migrant women make significant economic and social contributions, sustaining households, communities, and key sectors of the economy. This study examines migrant women’s access to the labor market, the working conditions, and the networks migrant women use to secure employment. Using a mixed-methods approach, the quantitative data was collected from 201 women migrants, and the qualitative data was collected from 20 women migrants through interviews. Five individuals living in Cape Town and Johannesburg participated in key informant interviews. Purposive sampling was used as a sampling technique. The qualitative and quantitative strands were integrated using explanatory sequential design. The findings revealed that while migrant women participate actively in the labor force (82.6%), their access to employment is often shaped by informal networks, legal status, and gendered labor market segmentation. Employment is predominantly concentrated in low-wage, insecure, and informal sectors (40.4%), with limited labor protections and exposure to exploitation. Working conditions are frequently characterized by long hours, low pay, and vulnerability to abuse, compounded by migrants’ limited bargaining power and restricted access to formal employment channels. The study highlights the central role of social networks and intermediaries in facilitating job access, while also underscoring structural barriers that constrain migrant women’s economic inclusion. These findings contribute empirical evidence to debates on migration, gender, and labor in South Africa and point to the need for targeted policy interventions to improve labor market access and working conditions for migrant women.