The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate has surged to 6.5 %, underscoring worsening job prospects for young people across the country.
This rate refers to those aged roughly 15–24 who are actively seeking work but remain without jobs, per ILO’s labour statistics methodology. The increase signals deeper problems in Nigeria’s labour market and the broader economy.
Recent national data show youth unemployment has long been volatile. The National Bureau of Statistics reported an 8.6 % unemployment rate among youths (ages 15–24) in Q3 2023, for example, highlighting that official numbers often differ depending on source and measurement method.
Multiple factors are fueling the rise: a stagnant economy, low levels of industrialisation, lack of quality job creation, and mismatch between skills provided by education and those demanded by employers. Reports also warn that security challenges and underinvestment in rural areas exacerbate the issue.
For Nigeria’s future, the youth unemployment uptick could derail hopes for growth dividends from its large young population. Experts argue that structural reforms, investment in vocational training, and strengthening public-private partnerships will be critical to reversing this trend.
Without aggressive interventions, the risk is that a growing share of youth will be trapped in low-productivity or informal jobs, deepening income inequality and social instability.
