Malawi 2015-16

16.1 MARRIED WOMEN’S AND MEN’S EMPLOYMENT
Employment
Respondents are considered to be employed if they have done any work other
than their housework in the 12 months before the survey.
Sample: Currently married women and men age 15-49
Earning cash for employment
Respondents are asked if they are paid for their labour in cash or in kind. Only
those who receive payment in cash only or in cash and in kind are considered
to earn cash for their employment.
Sample: Currently married women and men age 15-49 employed in the
12 months before the survey
Currently married men (98%) are more likely to have been employed in the last 12 months than currently
married women (72%) (Table 16.1).
Comparison of the type of earnings reveals that 61% of men who were employed were paid in cash only
compared with 30% of women. More disturbingly, women are far more likely to not be paid for their work
compared to men. Specifically, 59% of women reported that they are not paid for their labour compared to
26% of men (Table 16.1).
Trends: Current data suggests that these indicators have remained almost static since the 2010 MDHS. For
example, the proportion of men and women employed in 2010 was 98% and 76%, respectively. There are
some changes over time, however, in women’s earnings. The percentage of women earning cash only for
their work decreased from 45% in 2010 to the current 30%, and the percentage not paid for their work
increased from 42% in 2010 to 59%. Men’s earnings did not change noticeably during this period.
Patterns by background characteristics
• Employment in women generally increases with
age, with 61% of married women age 15-19
employed versus 79% of women age 40-44
(Figure 16.1).
• Employment in men remains fairly consistent
across ages at approximately 98%.
• Women age 15-19 and, to lesser extent, women
age 45-59 are more likely to not be paid for their
work compared with women of other ages.
16.2 CONTROL OVER WOMEN’S EARNINGS
Figure 16.1 Employment by age
Percentage of currently married women
and men who were employed at any time
in the12 months before the survey
98 97 98 98 98 98 98
Currently married men
66
71
61
Currently married women
75 78 79 76
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49
Control over one’s own cash earnings (women)
Respondents are considered to have control over their own earnings if they
participate in decisions alone or jointly with their husband about how their
earnings will be used.
Sample: Currently married women age 15-49 who received cash earnings for
employment during the 12 months before the survey
Generally, women have some control over their own cash earnings, with 76% either individually or jointly
deciding how their earnings are used. It is most common (47%) for women to decide jointly with their
252 • Women’s Empowerment