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, while the employed male population in Nigeria was estimated at almost 40 million employees, female employees were projected to be slightly lower, at around 31.3 million. Total employment has generally increased since 2013. That year, male and female employees in the country amounted to approximately 27.6 million and 24.2 million, respectively.

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.

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.

Nigeria has a labor force of over ** million people. As of 2023, the female labor force population was equal to about **** million people, higher than the male labor force of roughly **** million.

Nigeria Employment data was reported at 76.100 % in Jun 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.200 % for Mar 2024. Nigeria Employment data is updated quarterly, averaging 75.600 % from Dec 2022 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.100 % in Jun 2023 and a record low of 72.200 % in Dec 2023. Nigeria Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.G002: Labour Force Statistics: New Methodology.

Economic indicators

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Nigeria (SLEMPTOTLSPZSNGA) from 1991 to 2024 about Nigeria, employment-population ratio, employment, and population.

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Nigeria was reported at 48.4 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Labor force, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Nigeria's labor force continues to grow, with over 75.5 million people estimated to be economically active in 2023. This marks a significant increase from the previous year's figure of 73.3 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 51.3 million workers in cities compared to 37.6 million in rural communities. Interestingly, the gender distribution of the workforce shows a slight advantage for women, with about 45.4 million female workers compared to 43.6 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 23 million people. The second-largest group consists of individuals aged 35 to 44 years, numbering nearly 20.4 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 19 percent, while Lagos state boasts the lowest at 5.5 percent, highlighting regional disparities in job opportunities across the country.

Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 17.88 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Employment in industry (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Nigeria NG: Employment Index data was reported at 112.760 2010=100 in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 112.008 2010=100 for 2016. Nigeria NG: Employment Index data is updated yearly, averaging 105.614 2010=100 from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 112.760 2010=100 in 2017 and a record low of 99.922 2010=100 in 2012. Nigeria NG: Employment Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Unemployment Rate in Nigeria decreased to 4.30 percent in the second quarter of 2024 from 5.30 percent in the first quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Nigeria Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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 August of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Nigeria (SLUEM1524ZSNGA) from 1991 to 2024 about Nigeria, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

In 2023, the labor force participation rate for the female population in Nigeria was estimated at slightly over 52 percent. Since 2010, the rate has generally declined. That year, the labor force participation rate reached nearly 57 percent for women 15 years or older.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 5.183 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

As of 2023, Nigeria's labor force consisted of about ** million people. Around ** million people concluded secondary school, representing the most numerous group. Individuals who finished primary school added up to some **** million. In 2020, the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria was recorded among individuals who achieved vocational or commercial training. Among people with higher education, unemployment figures was particularly high.

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 .

Nigeria NG: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 6.317 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.321 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 4.510 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.321 % in 2016 and a record low of 3.479 % in 2013. Nigeria NG: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force 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: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.