Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

This paper addresses the effects of structural adjustment policies on women's access to employment opportunities. Structural adjustment policies affect women differently in their various roles :n development. Women face various constraints on the choice cf participating in the labour force. These constraints include level of education, marital status, family and household responsibilities, availability of support services, policies, historical factors, laws and cultura: attitudes. This paper argue.:, that structural adjustment policies are likely to negatively affect the employment position cf women. First, retrenchment has affected mainly sectors where women are concentrated like: social, personal and community services, finance, real estate and business services. Second, the public sector which has been an employer of the last resort will have very few new jobs during structural adjustment period. Women are likely to be affected because of their low levels of education. Third, women will join the informal sector in large numbers due to retrenchment arid liberalization policies. Policymakers face the challenge of creating policies addressing the issue of effects of structural adjustment policies on women's access to employment opportunities in Kenya. This is important given the role women play in development.