Nigeria’s unemployment rate has dropped to 4.3% in the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant improvement in the country’s labour market. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, this decline represents a decrease from the 5.3% recorded in the first quarter of 2024 and a gradual recovery from the 5.0% rate in the third quarter of 2023.
The Labour Force Participation Rate also saw a notable increase, rising to 79.5% from 77.3% in the previous quarter. This growth indicates increased workforce engagement and a more active labour market. Furthermore, the Employment-to-Population Ratio improved significantly, climbing to 76.1% in the second quarter of 2024 from 73.2% in the first quarter.
Self-employment remained the dominant form of employment, accounting for 85.6% of total employment, while informal employment rose slightly to 93.0%. Urban unemployment decreased to 5.2%, down from 6.0% in the first quarter, while rural areas recorded a lower unemployment rate of 2.8%.
The youth unemployment rate also saw a significant drop, decreasing to 6.5% from 8.4% in the first quarter. However, gender disparities persisted, with the unemployment rate for females at 5.1% compared to 3.4% for males. This highlights the need for targeted gender-inclusive policies to address the employment gap.
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