The services sector occupied around ** percent of the total employment in Nigeria as of 2023. This was the largest share that year, as the agriculture and industry sectors covered approximately ** percent and ** percent of the country's total employment, respectively.

Labor force, total in Nigeria was reported at 113349564 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Labor force, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Nigeria's labor force continues to grow, with over **** million people estimated to be economically active in 2023. This marks a significant increase from the previous year's figure of **** million. The country's workforce has been steadily expanding over the past decade, reflecting the nation's demographic changes and economic development. Urban concentration and gender distribution The labor force in Nigeria is predominantly concentrated in urban areas, with approximately **** million workers in cities compared to **** million in rural communities. Interestingly, the gender distribution of the workforce shows a slight advantage for women, with about **** million female workers compared to **** million male workers. This gender balance in the labor force suggests progress in women's participation in the Nigerian economy. Age demographics and education levels The Nigerian workforce is relatively young, with the largest group being those aged 25 to 34 years, comprising around ** million people. The second-largest group consists of individuals aged 35 to 44 years, numbering nearly **** million. Education levels vary among workers, with a significant portion having completed secondary school. However, unemployment rates differ based on educational attainment, often with vocational or commercial training graduates experiencing the lowest unemployment rates. Notably, the State of Abia faces the highest unemployment rate at nearly ** percent, while Lagos state boasts the lowest at *** percent, highlighting regional disparities in job opportunities across the country.

Abstract

The Nigeria Labour Force Survey (NLFS) is a statistical survey designed to collect comprehensive data on employment, unemployment, and other characteristics of the population labour force. It provides quarterly estimates of the main labour force statistics with sufficient precision at the national level. This report contains findings from the Nigeria Labour Force Survey (NLFS) for the second quarter of 2024. The statistics are measured based on the labour force framework as guided by the international standard for labour market statistics for international comparability and the specific data requirements for the country.

The main objective of the NLFS is to collect basic statistics on the labour market situation in Nigeria and make labour statistics available to support government policies and programmes for effective planning, and for the private sector to support investment decision-making aimed at improving the employment situation in the country. The Labour Force Survey also serves as a tool for monitoring progress towards national goals and global commitments with an overarching goal of promotingthe welfare of the Nigerian population while ensuring the availability of labour market statistics to feed into the global sustainable development goals agenda. Labour is often one of the most important factors of production and is a major determinant of the economic system globally. Therefore, it is imperative to know whether people are working or not, how long they work, and the nature of the jobs they are engaged in.

The NLFS enables key labour market statistics and the employment situation to be monitored periodically in Nigeria. The indicators include the labour force participation rate, employment-to-population ratio, unemployment rate, time-related underemployment, self-employment, labour underutilisation, and other key job characteristics.

Geographic coverage

National Zone State Sector

Analysis unit

Individual

Universe

Household Members

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The target sample for the entire year is 35,520 households divided across 12 months, meaning the target sample for each quarter is 8,880 households. After small levels of non-response and replacement, the final sample for Q1 2024 is 8,836 households across the 36 states including the FCT.

Sampling deviation

No Deviations

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

A structured questionnaire was used for NLFS. A household questionnaire was administered in each household, which collected various information on Identification, Demographic Characteristics(inclusion of disability questions for 5 years or older), Education, Employed at work,Temporarily absence, Agricultural work and Market Orientation, Characteristics of main and secondary job, Unemployent and out of labour.Some of the questions were administered at household level while others were at individual level.

Cleaning operations

Real - Time data editing took place at different stages throughout the processing which includes: 1) Data editing and cleaning 2) Structure checking and completeness 3) Secondary editing 4) Structural checking of data files

Response rate

The household response rate is 100%.

Sampling error estimates

The margin of error of each quarter is 1% for national estimates.

Data appraisal

A series of data quality tables and graphs are available in the reports.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

households/individuals

Kind of data

survey

Frequency of data collection

Yearly

Sampling procedure

Sample size:

Employment Rate in Nigeria increased to 76.10 percent in the second quarter of 2024 from 73.20 percent in the first quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Nigeria Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the employment in the agricultural sector as share of total employment in Nigeria stood at 34.31 percent. Between 1991 and 2023, the figure dropped by 18.09 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

The total employment in Nigeria equaled over 84 million individuals in 2023, highest among people aged 15-24 years. Specifically, around 20.6 million individuals between the ages of 15-24 years in the country were employed .

In the fourth quarter of 2020, 38.5 percent of the labor force aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria was unemployed, showing an increase compared to the previous quarters. In the same period of time, the total unemployment rate in the country amounted to 17.5 percent. This figure was projected to increase further in the next years.

The NEW Nigeria methodology defines as unemployed labor force who did not work at all or worked for less than 20 hours a week. The international definition, instead, include people aged 15 years to 64 years old who were available for work, actively seeking work, but were unable to find work.

Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population data was reported at 0.782 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.782 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.782 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.782 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Social Protection and Insurance. Coverage of unemployment benefits and active labor market programs (ALMP) shows the percentage of population participating in unemployment compensation, severance pay, and early retirement due to labor market reasons, labor market services (intermediation), training (vocational, life skills, and cash for training), job rotation and job sharing, employment incentives and wage subsidies, supported employment and rehabilitation, and employment measures for the disabled. Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.;ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, The World Bank. Data are based on national representative household surveys. (datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/);;

Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 3rd Quintile data was reported at 0.938 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 3rd Quintile data is updated yearly, averaging 0.938 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.938 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.938 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 3rd Quintile data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Social Protection and Insurance. Coverage of unemployment benefits and active labor market programs (ALMP) shows the percentage of population participating in unemployment compensation, severance pay, and early retirement due to labor market reasons, labor market services (intermediation), training (vocational, life skills, and cash for training), job rotation and job sharing, employment incentives and wage subsidies, supported employment and rehabilitation, and employment measures for the disabled. Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.;ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, The World Bank. Data are based on national representative household surveys. (datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/);;

Nigeria's agricultural sector experienced a growth of 1.76 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the previous quarter. However, in relation to the fourth quarter of the previous years under study, this represented a decline. Nonetheless, the overall growth rate reflects the ongoing importance of agriculture to Nigeria's economy, despite challenges facing the sector. Agriculture remains one of the crucial sources of employment and livelihood for many Nigerians. Employment trends in agriculture While agriculture continues to play a considerable role in Nigeria's economy, its share of total employment has been generally fluctuating recently. In 2023, the agricultural sector accounted for approximately 34 percent of the total employment. While this maintained the above 30 percent share observed since 2000, it represented a further decline. By extension, this trend suggests a slow but steady shift in the labor market, especially over the last three decades, with more workers moving into the services sector which now accounts for around 47.8 percent of total employment. The workforce transition from agriculture to services can be attributed mainly to rural-urban migration, technological advancement, and a rising informal sector. Land use and crop production Nigeria's agricultural landscape is characterized by extensive land use, with approximately 36.9 million hectares of arable land and 7.7 million hectares under permanent crops as of 2022. Crop production, a key component of the agricultural sector, saw growth of 1.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024. Roots and tubers are the main agricultural products grown in the country, besides cereals and oil crops. Overall, the sector is important to Nigeria’s economic diversification.

In Sub Saharan Africa, agriculture’s contribution to employment and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to be higher than other sectors. Policies designed and implemented for the agricultural sector could be an influencing factor to the variations in the contributions of agriculture to the annual national GDP. These policies are believed to have shaped and (some) still shaping the landscape of agriculture and national economy. The study analysed agriculture’s GDP contribution during the implementation of various national agricultural policies, and the potential of the policies to foster agrobusiness development in Nigeria between 2000 and 2021. The study adopted mixed-method approach. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered on 29 purposively sampled state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) directors across Nigeria. The questionnaire was face-validated by three experts. Reliability test was carryout using Cronbach Alpha approach, which yielded an index of 0.89. Copies of the questionnaire were administered on the respondents through direct contact. Secondary data were collected from the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Bureau of Statistics, and World Bank. Data was analysed with mean, standard deviation, percentages and ANOVA. Findings of the study revealed that the performance of implemented agricultural policies had influence on agricultural sector’s percentage contribution to national GDP, and changes in agriculture’s GDP contribution had significant impact on national GDP growth. The duration of active life of the policies did not influence their performance, like the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme which lasted longer yet performed less than the National Special Programme on Food Security in terms of improvement in agriculture’s GDP contributions. All the policies implemented had several limitations in their ability to foster agribusinesses in Nigeria. The study recommends that future policies should focus on providing sustainable frameworks for developing the business in agriculture through value chain optimisation and the use of the teeming, young, and affordable labour force like China and India did to become global food producers.

In 2023, agriculture contributed around 22.72 percent to Nigeria’s GDP, 32.58 percent came from industry, and 42.77 percent from the services sector. Economic sectors The most common breakdown of economic activity in a country is looking at three economic sectors: The primary sector, which involves agriculture, forestry, and fishing, the secondary sector, industry, that includes manufacturing, processing, or transforming goods, and finally, the tertiary sector, services, i.e. providing information or services to consumers, such as in IT, tourism, or banking. A country’s contribution to GDP, and thus its own economy, is easily visible when looking at the performance of these three sectors. Soaring services in NigeriaLike in most thriving economies nowadays, the services sector is gaining momentum in Nigeria, because more and more people are moving from the countryside to the cities to find jobs. Nigeria is a mixed economy which focuses mainly on telecommunications, financial services, and technology, a strategy that is likely to pay off in the future and will see its GDP soaring. Nigeria’s reliance on oil is also an important contributor to its economic success; between 2001 and 2010, it was one of the countries with the highest GDP growth worldwide. However, oil prices are also responsible for a GDP growth slump in 2016 and for the first trade deficit in over a decade.

Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 2nd Quintile data was reported at 0.736 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 2nd Quintile data is updated yearly, averaging 0.736 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.736 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.736 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 2nd Quintile data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Social Protection and Insurance. Coverage of unemployment benefits and active labor market programs (ALMP) shows the percentage of population participating in unemployment compensation, severance pay, and early retirement due to labor market reasons, labor market services (intermediation), training (vocational, life skills, and cash for training), job rotation and job sharing, employment incentives and wage subsidies, supported employment and rehabilitation, and employment measures for the disabled. Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.;ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, The World Bank. Data are based on national representative household surveys. (datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/);;

Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 4th Quintile data was reported at 0.794 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 4th Quintile data is updated yearly, averaging 0.794 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.794 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.794 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: 4th Quintile data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Social Protection and Insurance. Coverage of unemployment benefits and active labor market programs (ALMP) shows the percentage of population participating in unemployment compensation, severance pay, and early retirement due to labor market reasons, labor market services (intermediation), training (vocational, life skills, and cash for training), job rotation and job sharing, employment incentives and wage subsidies, supported employment and rehabilitation, and employment measures for the disabled. Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.;ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, The World Bank. Data are based on national representative household surveys. (datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/);;

Informal employment varied significantly across African countries. In 2022, around **** percent of Niger's working population was employed informally. Undeclared work accounted for over ** percent of the total employment in ** other African nations between 2019 and 2024. On the other hand, Seychelles had the lowest share on the African continent working informally at almost ** percent during the same years.

Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: Poorest Quintile data was reported at 0.224 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: Poorest Quintile data is updated yearly, averaging 0.224 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.224 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.224 % in 2018. Nigeria NG: Coverage: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs: % of Population: Poorest Quintile data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Social Protection and Insurance. Coverage of unemployment benefits and active labor market programs (ALMP) shows the percentage of population participating in unemployment compensation, severance pay, and early retirement due to labor market reasons, labor market services (intermediation), training (vocational, life skills, and cash for training), job rotation and job sharing, employment incentives and wage subsidies, supported employment and rehabilitation, and employment measures for the disabled. Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.;ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, The World Bank. Data are based on national representative household surveys. (datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/);;

Nigeria Benefit Incidence: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs (ALMP) to Poorest Quintile: % of Total Unemployment/ALMP Benefits data was reported at 100.000 % in 2018. Nigeria Benefit Incidence: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs (ALMP) to Poorest Quintile: % of Total Unemployment/ALMP Benefits data is updated yearly, averaging 100.000 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 2018 and a record low of 100.000 % in 2018. Nigeria Benefit Incidence: Unemployment Benefits & Active Labour Market Programs (ALMP) to Poorest Quintile: % of Total Unemployment/ALMP Benefits data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Social Protection and Insurance. Benefit incidence of unemployment benefits and active labor market programs (ALMP) to poorest quintile shows the percentage of total unemployment and active labor market programs benefits received by the poorest 20% of the population. Unemployment benefits and active labor market programs include unemployment compensation, severance pay, and early retirement due to labor market reasons, labor market services (intermediation), training (vocational, life skills, and cash for training), job rotation and job sharing, employment incentives and wage subsidies, supported employment and rehabilitation, and employment measures for the disabled. Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.;ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, The World Bank. Data are based on national representative household surveys. (datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/);;

As of 2023, Niger registered the agricultural sector's highest contribution to the GDP in Africa, at over ** percent. Comoros and Ethiopia followed, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounting for approximately ** percent and ** percent of the GDP, respectively. On the other hand, Botswana, Djibouti, Libya, Zambia, and South Africa were the African countries with the lowest percentage of the GDP generated by the agricultural sector. Agriculture remains a pillar of Africa’s economy Despite the significant variations across countries, agriculture is a key sector in Africa. In 2022, it represented around ** percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, growing by over *** percentage points compared to 2011. The agricultural industry also strongly contributes to the continent’s job market. The number of people employed in the primary sector in Africa grew from around *** million in 2011 to *** million in 2021. In proportion, agriculture employed approximately ** percent of Africa’s working population in 2021. Agricultural activities attracted a large share of the labor force in Central, East, and West Africa, which registered percentages over the regional average. On the other hand, North Africa recorded the lowest share of employment in agriculture, as the regional economy relies significantly on the industrial and service sectors. Cereals are among the most produced crops Sudan and South Africa are the African countries with the largest agricultural areas. Respectively, they devote around *** million and **** million hectares of land to growing crops. Agricultural production varies significantly across African countries in terms of products and volume. Cereals such as rice, corn, and wheat are among the main crops on the continent, also representing a staple in most countries. The leading cereal producers are Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Together, they recorded a cereal output of almost *** million metric tons in 2021. Additionally, rice production was concentrated in Nigeria, Egypt, Madagascar, and Tanzania.