Author Ubah Rashid Egeh WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT IN PRIVATE ENTERPRISES-HARGEISA: SCALE AND CAUSES OF GENDER IMBALANCE Author Ubah Rashid Egeh

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: The overall aim of this research is to find out the scale and causes of gender imbalance at workplaces in private enterprises in Hargeisa. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This research primarily used a qualitative approach. The research engaged and conducted interviews with ten private business enterprises.

RESEARCH FINDINGS: This research presented the root causes and factors that might limit gender in private business enterprises. Major causes included but were not limited to: social and cultural barriers and the long established traditional recruitment system, supported by recruitment policies and misinterpretation of religion. On the other hand, other factors that might limit women in employment and are very important include: unfriendly environment, male dominated work and lack of skills. Therefore these should be given special consideration in order to catalyze the behavior changes of individuals. In addition to that, the main factors in why women are less likely to be employed are maternity leave duration, lack of experience, lower levels of education, and perceptions of biological limitation.