Nigeria: jobs and pay

How many Nigerians work in the informal sector?

Informal employment made up 93.0% of employment in Nigeria in the second quarter of 2024, according to the NBS Nigeria Labour Force Survey, the most recent labour force report published by the NBS. Self-employment accounted for 85.6% of employment.

Informal jobs are those without social protection, such as pension contributions, or paid leave, and include most farming, trading and small-business work. The survey follows the International Labour Organization's definitions, adopted by the NBS in 2023. No quarterly labour force report after the second quarter of 2024 had been published on the NBS site when checked on 14 October 2026.

Official sources: NBS: Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2024

What is Nigeria's underemployment rate?

Nigeria's time-related underemployment rate was 9.2% in the second quarter of 2024, down from 10.6% in the previous quarter, according to the NBS Nigeria Labour Force Survey, the most recent labour force report on the NBS site.

Time-related underemployment counts employed people who work fewer than 40 hours a week and want and are available to work more. Since 2023 the NBS has used International Labour Organization definitions, under which anyone who worked at least one hour in the reference week is employed, so these figures are not comparable with the underemployment rates published before 2023.

Official sources: NBS: Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2024

What is the labour force participation rate in Nigeria?

Nigeria's labour force participation rate was 79.5% in the second quarter of 2024, according to the NBS Nigeria Labour Force Survey, the most recent quarterly labour force report on the NBS site.

The rate is the share of the working-age population, aged 15 and over, that is either employed or looking for work. It is high by international standards because most adults must work to support themselves, often in farming or trading. The survey uses International Labour Organization definitions, adopted in 2023, so earlier series are not directly comparable.

Official sources: NBS: Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2024

How many young Nigerians are not in education, employment or training?

12.5% of young people in Nigeria were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the second quarter of 2024, down from 14.4% in the first quarter, according to the NBS Nigeria Labour Force Survey. The rate for young women was 14.3%.

The NEET rate covers people aged 15 to 24 who are neither working nor studying nor in training. It includes young people who have given up looking for work and those caring for family, so it captures more than youth unemployment. This is the most recent labour force report on the NBS site.

Official sources: NBS: Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2024

How many Nigerians are self-employed?

85.6% of employed Nigerians were self-employed in the second quarter of 2024, according to the NBS Nigeria Labour Force Survey, the most recent labour force report on the NBS site. Informal employment accounted for 93.0% of jobs.

Self-employment includes own-account workers, such as traders and smallholder farmers, employers and family members working in a household business. The remaining workers are employees paid a wage or salary. Self-employed workers often do not contribute to the contributory pension scheme regulated by the National Pension Commission, which is mainly used by employees in formal jobs.

Official sources: NBS: Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2024

What is Nigeria's minimum wage?

In 2024, the statutory minimum wage in Nigeria was 65,000 NGN a month (about $44), according to the ILO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012.

What is the average wage in Nigeria?

The ILO puts average monthly earnings of employees in Nigeria at $52 a month in 2024. It was $373 a month in 2013. It is 12th highest of 12 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is $173 a month. Of 75 countries with 2024 data, 75th highest.

How high is unemployment in Nigeria?

According to the ILO, the unemployment rate in Nigeria was 3.1% in 2025. The peak was 5.7% in 2020 and the low 3.0% in 2024. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 5.2%; Nigeria is 31st highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 133rd highest.

How many young people in Nigeria are unemployed?

In 2025, unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Nigeria was 5.3%, according to the ILO. The peak was 10.8% in 2020 and the low 5.1% in 2024. It is 31st highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 8.8%. World rank, highest first: 147th of 174.

What share of people in Nigeria are in the labour force?

82.5%: that is the labour force participation rate in Nigeria for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 79.3% (2020) to 82.6% (2024). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 64.3%, and Nigeria placed 3rd highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 5th of 174.

What is female labour force participation in Nigeria?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in Nigeria was 80.7%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 74.9% (2020) to 80.7% (2024). It is 2nd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 57.3%. Worldwide: 3rd of 174.

How many people in Nigeria are employed?

According to the ILO, the employment to population ratio in Nigeria was 80.0% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2024, at 80.1%; its low point was 2020, at 74.8%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 58.8%; Nigeria is 3rd highest of 45. Worldwide: 6th of 174.

How common is self-employment in Nigeria?

66.5%: that is the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Nigeria for 2025, according to the ILO. No year since 2005 has been lower. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 67.6%; Nigeria is 24th highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 32nd highest.

What share of workers in Nigeria earn a wage or salary?

13.8%: that is the share of workers who are paid employees in Nigeria for 2025, according to the ILO. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 41st highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 29.0%. World rank, highest first: 170th of 174.