Empowering women through education and employment opportunities: a cross-sectional study in urban Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The intersection of education, employment, and empowerment remains underexplored in Pakistan, particularly in urban settings where opportunities for women are relatively higher but still constrained by systemic challenges. This study explored the relationship between education and employment opportunities in fostering women's empowerment in urban Pakistan.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted to survey 400 women from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to assess empowerment levels. Data collected through structured questionnaires focused on education, employment, and decision-making autonomy.

Results: The results highlighted the diversity of the sample, showing that 40% of participants were aged 26–35 years, 65% were married, and 40% had attained secondary education. A majority belonged to middle SES (45%), and 55% were unemployed. A significant positive association was shown between women holding tertiary education and higher levels of decision-making autonomy (65%), financial independence (75%), and awareness of legal rights (80%). The results underscore the importance of employment as a driver of empowerment, with all reported differences being statistically significant (p < 0.001). The results indicated that tertiary education (OR=2.8, p<0.001), employment (OR=2.5, p<0.001), and higher socioeconomic status (OR=2.2, p<0.001) significantly contribute to women's empowerment.

Conclusion: The results indicated that higher education and employment significantly enhance women's roles in household and societal decision-making. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to reduce gender disparities in education and employment.