The United Nations Women’s Organization has announced that out of every five migrant women returning to Afghanistan, fewer than one can earn an income, which constitutes only 17% of the total number of returning migrant women.
In a published report, the organization stated that this situation could exacerbate food insecurity among returning families, especially those headed by women.
The report indicates that despite many women having worked in other countries and acquiring skills, upon returning to Afghanistan, they face a near-total collapse of job opportunities. Nearly 40% of these women reported having skills but are unable to utilize them, including professional, technical, and digital skills.
Findings from the UN Women’s Organization reveal that more than three-quarters of women who worked in Iran and nearly two-thirds of women who worked in Pakistan are unemployed after returning to Afghanistan.
The organization stated that this survey was based on data collected from 700 returning women and local stakeholders, including phone surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and workshops in the provinces of Herat, Nangarhar, and Kabul.
Additionally, the report titled “After Return: Rebuilding Afghan Women’s Livelihoods” from the UN Women’s Organization highlights that the main barriers include employment and mobility restrictions for women in Afghanistan, limited access to capital and tools, and weak market opportunities. More than three-quarters of returning women have no tools or capital to earn an income.
This comes at a time when over 5.5 million migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan since 2023, placing unprecedented pressure on local economies that were already fragile.
