Published 2025-12-30
Keywords
- Demographic Determinants, Age Distribution, Marital Status, Labour Market Participation)
Abstract
This research investigated demographic determinants of labour market participation in Nigeria. The specific objectives were to investigate the effects of age distribution, marital status, gender on labour market participation in Nigeria. Also, the study sought to determine the extent to which socio-economic factors (income level, education, occupation, size of household and geographic location) affects labour market participation in Nigeria. Data were drawn randomly from residents of five States in South East Nigeria using multi-stage sampling technique. The sample size was 363 drawn from a population of 14,322,000 residents of South East Nigeria. The data were coded in SPSS software and analyzed using multiple regression technique. The findings revealed that age and marital status significantly increased labour market participation in Nigeria while gender had decreasing effect on labour market participation in Nigeria. Education, income level and geographic location were the significant socio-economic determinants of labour market participation in Nigeria. While occupation increased labour market participation though not significantly, household size decreased labour market participation. The study concluded that labour market participation in Nigeria is primarily driven by socio-economic factors such as age distribution, marital status, education, income level, and geographic location. There was no clear evidence of gender-based disparities in labour market participation. The study recommended that Government should create policies that will address the disparities between urban and rural areas by improving infrastructure as well as encourage women participation in labour market.
References
- Adebayo, A., & Olayemi, S. O. (2020). Gender inequality and labour market participation in Nigeria. African Journal of Economic Policy, 27(1), 45–63.
- Adediran, O., & Yusuf, K. (2024). Socioeconomic disparities in Nigerian labour market participation. Journal of African Development Studies, 18(2), 88–104.
- Ajakaiye, O., & Jerome, A. (1999). Structural adjustment and poverty in Nigeria. African Journal of Economic Policy, 6(1), 1–23.
- Akinbami, J., Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, B., & Adepoju, A. (2022). COVID-19 impacts on labour markets in Africa: Nigeria in focus. African Development Review, 34(S1), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12612
- Amoo, E., et al. (2019). Gender dimensions of labour force participation in Nigeria. African Population Studies, 33(1), 4625–4637.
- Anyanwu, J. C. (2022). Labour market dynamics and structural change in South East Nigeria. African Development Review, 34(1), 45–60.
- Bassey, E., & Ibrahim, M. (2024). Household composition and labour market outcomes in Nigeria. Journal of Population and Labour Studies, 12(4), 205–223.
- Becker, G. S. (1993). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis with special reference to education (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
- Chikezie, N. P., & Onwubuya, E. A. (2021). Household composition and women’s economic participation in rural South East Nigeria. Journal of Rural Development Studies, 19(2), 101–114.
- Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
- Eneji, U. S., Mai-Lafia, D., & Weiping, S. (2013). Socioeconomic impact of graduate unemployment on Nigeria and the vision 20:2020. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 2(1), 148–176
- Ezeh, P. C., & Nwachukwu, I. N. (2018). Gender dimensions of labour market participation in South East Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies, 60(1), 89–110.
- Eze, S. O., & Okonkwo, E. (2021). Rural labour market participation and livelihood outcomes in South East Nigeria. Journal of Rural Development, 40(2), 201–215.
- Ezeh, F., & Chika, O. (2024). Gendered patterns of labour participation in Nigeria: A panel data approach. Nigerian Journal of Social and Economic Research, 62(1), 101–118.
- Ike, O. S. (2017). Marital status and women’s employment in the South East region of Nigeria. International Journal of Gender and Development Issues, 5(1), 33–47.
- International Labour Organization. (2010). Labour force statistics: Nigeria. ILOSTAT Database.
- International Labour Organization. (2023). World employment and social outlook: Trends 2023. ILO.
- Killingsworth, M. R. (1983). Labor supply. Cambridge University Press.
- National Bureau of Statistics (2023). Labour force statistics: Q2 2023. NBS.
- National Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Labour force statistics: Volume 1. NBS.
- National Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Labour force statistics Q4 2020. NBS.
- National Bureau of Statistics. (2024). Education statistics report. NBS.
- Ogunleye, E. K., & Olapade, M. (2019). Marital status, gender roles and employment in Nigeria. Social and Development Studies Review, 8(1), 110–126.
- Ogunrinola, I. O. (2020). Demographic and socio-economic determinants of labour force participation in Nigeria. Journal of African Labour Studies, 14(1), 45–62.
- Okafor, E. E. (2011). Youth unemployment and implications for stability of democracy in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 13(1), 358–373.
- Okeke, C. I., & Nwachukwu, P. U. (2025). Demographic factors and formal labour market engagement in Nigeria: Evidence from 2024 national survey. African Journal of Labour Economics, 5(1), 15–29.
- Okonkwo, I. C., & Okoye, R. C. (2018). Age structure and employment participation in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Labour Studies, 12(2), 75–92.
- Oladipo, O. S., & Fabiyi, O. O. (2015). Determinants of informal sector employment in Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Development Studies, 3(2), 1–15
- Olawale, O., & Adebayo, S. (2017). Gender and labour force participation in Nigeria: Trends and determinants. Nigerian Journal of Economic Studies, 15(2), 45–61.
- Oluwatobi, S. O., & Ogunrinola, I. O. (2011). Government expenditure on human capital development: Implications for economic growth in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development, 4(3), 72–80.
- Onyema, T. C., & Abdulrahman, S. (2025). Modelling the pathways from education to employment in Nigeria. Economic Modelling and Policy Review, 7(1), 45–63.
- Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53–55. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd
- Udu, E. A., & Agu, C. I. (2019). Education and labour market outcomes in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Economic Studies, 15(3), 77–94.
- United Nations. (2000). World population prospects: The 2000 revision. UN DESA.
- UN-Habitat. (2010). State of African cities report 2010. UN-Habitat.
- UN-Habitat. (2024). World urbanization prospects: Nigeria profile. UN-Habitat.
- World Bank. (2024). World development indicators: Nigeria. World Bank.
- Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper and Row