Afghan University Women Graduates Are Not Well-Represented in the Job Market in Afghanistan

Abstract

Higher education has been one of the prominent sectors in Afghanistan for the past decade. There has been a steady increase in the representation of women within the higher education system in the country. However, the growth of an educated workforce within the job market and the growth of the national economy have not been equal. A high number of university women graduates are jobless, employed in non-relevant professions, or working in part-time jobs like teaching in primary and secondary school. This paper explores the contribution and representation of university women graduates in the economy of Afghanistan. Through a liberal feminist lens, the research views the socioeconomic and political dimensions of gender equality norms and women's empowerment in the country. This paper further determines applicable approaches and solutions towards representation of educated women within the job market and the economy of Afghanistan in the long run.