UN Women said in a new report that fewer than one in five women returning to Afghanistan are able to earn income, with just 17% currently employed.
The report warns that low employment rates among returnee women risk worsening household debt and food insecurity, particularly in families headed by women facing severe economic hardship.
Despite gaining skills abroad, many women returning from Iran and Pakistan face a near-total collapse of job opportunities, with around 40% unable to use their professional, technical, or digital skills.
More than three-quarters of women who worked in Iran and nearly two-thirds from Pakistan are now unemployed, reflecting structural barriers to women’s participation in the Afghanistan economy.
The findings are based on surveys and interviews with over 700 returnee women across Kabul, Herat, and Nangarhar, highlighting widespread economic exclusion.
Since 2023, more than 5.5 million migrants have returned to Afghanistan, placing unprecedented strain on already fragile local economies and limited job markets.
Restrictions on women’s work and mobility, limited access to capital, and weak market opportunities remain key barriers, leaving most returnee women without tools or resources to earn a livelihood.
UN Women called for increased investment in livelihoods, skills training, and financial support, stressing that empowering women is essential for both household resilience and Afghanistan’s broader economic recovery.
