Navigating AI, Burnout and Return‑to‑Office Reality
Talent Insights for Employers
The Working Women in South Africa Report 2026 gives employers a data‑backed view of what women are navigating in the workplace, what they value and what would make them stay. Compiled by RecruitMyMom, a specialist women‑focused talent agency, this year’s focused edition draws on 3 509 survey responses from skilled women aged 18 to 64.
It builds on the 2025 talent blueprint, revisiting the core trends and exploring three vital areas affecting how women experience work in 2026: navigating return‑to‑office, AI readiness and wellbeing at work.
In a country where reliable data remains limited, our aim is simple; to help employers make better, more confident decisions about how they attract and retain experienced female talent.
Key Findings
- Women already see value in using AI in their jobs and are embracing it with confidence. The opportunity for employers to lead that transition is wide open.
- How and where skilled women want to work has never been more relevant. The 2026 report reveals what their real experience of return‑to‑office mandates means for talent retention.
- Burnout is a reality for skilled women and the wellbeing support available is not reaching employees who need it most.
- Career progression barriers persist, and the same barrier has topped the list for three consecutive years.
- Women remain more loyal than the average employee, displaying longer tenure at a single employer.
How to attract and retain skilled women in South Africa in 2026
For businesses focused on talent retention in South Africa, the challenge is not just finding qualified candidates, but also keeping them. The 2026 Working Women in South Africa Report extends last year’s blueprint with data‑backed strategies to help employers attract, develop and retain skilled women in the workplace.
The flexibility dilemma: how do return‑to‑office mandates affect working women in South Africa?
- Where women are currently working versus where they want to work.
- What flexibility means to working women.
- How return‑to‑office mandates are affecting job satisfaction and talent retention.
- What employers can do to make in‑office time purposeful rather than prescribed.
Are South African women prepared for AI in the workplace?
- How AI is already influencing the day‑to‑day work of skilled South African women.
- Why women’s confidence in AI is high.
- The gap between women’s AI readiness and the support employers are providing.
- What investing in AI capability for your workforce means for retention and competitive advantage.
What do working women really need to thrive in their careers?
- Why career progression barriers persist, and what the most consistent obstacle across three years of research tells us.
- How burnout is affecting women across seniority levels and age groups.
- The gap between the wellbeing support employers offer and what employees are accessing.
- What women say they need to grow, advance and sustain their best work.
How can South African businesses strengthen their organisations for long-term gain?
South Africa’s women are educated, ambitious and remarkably loyal. They are navigating a rapidly changing world of work with confidence and ambition. The business case for attracting, retaining and growing this talent remains strong.
Download the Working Women in South Africa Report 2026 for the full findings and a practical employer guide to building high‑performing, inclusive teams.
Download the Full Report
