Under the Taliban, half a million Afghan jobs were lost, with women being the hardest hit, according to the UN

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, more than half a million people have lost or been pushed out of their jobs, according to the UN International Labour Organization (ILO). 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that the economy has been "paralysed," claiming that there have been massive job and working-hour losses, according to a statement released by the United Nations. 

Women have been impacted particularly hard, according to the statement. As a result of the Afghan crisis and "restrictions on women's participation in the workplace," job losses are likely to reach about 700,000 by the middle of this year, with the most catastrophic projections reaching 900,000. 

Women's employment rates are already extremely low by global standards

However, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that they fell by 16% in the third quarter of 2021, and that they might fall by 21% to 28% by mid-2022. 

"The situation in Afghanistan is severe, and rapid support for stabilisation and recovery is necessary," Ramin Behzad, the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan, said. "While meeting immediate humanitarian needs is a top priority, long-term rehabilitation will hinge on people and communities having access to good jobs, livelihoods, and basic services."