Four out of every 10 Nigerians in the workforce were unemployed or underemployed by the end of September, according to latest figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report, released yesterday, showed that economically active or working age population (15 – 64 years of age) increased from 110.3 million by the end of June to 111.1 million in September, while the labor force population increased from 83.9 million in second quarter to 85.1 million in Q3 2017.
The total number of people in full-time employment (at least 40 hours a week) declined from 52.7 million in Q2 2017 to 51.1 million in Q3 2017, it said, adding that total unemployment and underemployment combined increased from 37.2 percent in the previous quarter to 40.0 percent in Q3 2017.
During the quarter Q3 2017, 21.2 percent of women within the labour force (aged 15-64 and willing, able, and actively seeking work) were unemployed, compared to 16.5 percent of men
