Since 2014, the National Bureau of Statistics counts people working fewer than 20 hours per week as unemployed and those working 20 to 39 hours as underemployed.
In Nigeria, there are about 16 million unemployed persons most of which are youths within the age of 15 and 24. 40% of the population are either unemployed or underemployed and Majority of workers are earning the minimum wage of N18,000 per month which is barely above the poverty line.
The SDGs promote sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to this, as are effective measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the goal is to achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and men by 2030.
Facts and figures
15.99 million
The national unemployment rate stood at 33.1 percent in 2017, corresponding to approx. 16 million unemployed persons. Number of unemployed in Nigeria is as 65 million persons.
37.2% to 40%
The total number of unemployed and underemployed put together increased from 37.2% in the previous quarter to 40% in the 2018 third quarter
21.2%
Unemployment among youth (aged 15 to 24) reached 21.2 percent in the first quarter of 2018.
21.2%
The number of women within the labour force (aged 15-64) who were willing, able and actively seeking for job but unemployed was 21.2% while that of men was 16.5%
$1.67 per day
The current minimum wage of N18,000.00 per month which is $1.67 per day below the poverty line
6%
The 2018 contribution of tax to GDP is at 6%
