Racial Disparities in Labour Market Outcomes between Immigrants and South African-Born Women: Evidence from the 2011 Census

Abstract

The chapter examines disparities in women’s labour market outcomes based on race and nativity in South Africa by employing multinomial logit models on the 2011 Census data. Findings highlight labour market disadvantages experienced by black women in South Africa, particularly among foreign-born nationals, highlighting how the intersection between race and nativity impedes the success of black immigrants. Overall, black women predominantly occupy low-skilled occupations, mostly in the informal sector and private households, consequently earning significantly less than their white counterparts. However, as immigrant women spend more time in South Africa, their likelihood of working in private households declines gradually, and their income attainment improves significantly. Furthermore, returns to post-secondary education are higher for black than white women, regardless of their nativity status. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to policy considerations.