CAMEROONIAN INSIGHTS: PROBING THE LINK BETWEEN OCCUPATIONAL SEGREGATION AND GENDER WAGE GAPS

Abstract

Cameroon's economic dynamics and demographic pressures have triggered a structural transformation in its labor market, resulting in deteriorating employment conditions and reduced access to social services. The rise of precarious employment and the informal sector have exacerbated these challenges, contributing to significant disparities in labor market indicators (National Institute of Statistics (NIS), 2012; Ekamena, 2014; Baye, Epo & Ndenzako, 2016; International Labour Organization (ILO), 2017). Currently, the informal sector accounts for approximately 90% of the workforce in Cameroon (NIS, 2016), with women disproportionately concentrated in low-paying jobs, particularly within the informal agricultural sector.

Although women have made progress in the Cameroonian labor market since the 1990s, marked by increased representation in high-level positions, significant gender disparities persist. While the presence of women in top government roles has risen to 17.18%, compared to 11.7% in 2012 and 6.7% in 2002, gender pay gaps persist. In rural areas, gender inequalities remain entrenched, with men and women often engaged in different forms of employment, such as self-employed farmers, temporary workers, or unpaid family laborers. Rural women, who perform vital domestic and reproductive roles crucial for household and community well-being, face economic invisibility due to these roles being perceived as extensions of family duties.

This study delves into these complex dynamics, shedding light on the evolving role of women in Cameroon's labor market, gender disparities, and the economic challenges faced by rural women