A’bom Unemployment Rate Rises To 51%, NBS
Information reaching us that, Akwa Ibom State ranks fifth in the country in terms of the unemployment rate, according to a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on its website Monday.
The jobless rate in the oil-rich state rose to 51% in the fourth quarter of last year (Q4 2020) from 45.2% in the second quarter of 2020, the last period for which the agency released labor-force statistics.
According to the latest report, 3,682,086 persons, aged between 15 and 64 (working-age population) were economically-active during the period under review (Q4 2020).
The NBS defines unemployment to cover persons (aged 15–64), who during the reference period were available for work, actively seeking work but were without work.
In Akwa Ibom that figure rose from 1,144,399 (in Q2 2020) to 1,262,605 (Q4 2020) – an increase of 118,206 persons.
Also, Akwa Ibom has an underemployment rate of 16.69%.
NBS says underemployment occurs if you work less than full time hours, which is 40 hours, but work at least 20 hours on average a week and /or if you work full time but are engaged in an activity that underutilizes your skills, time and educational qualifications.
Away from Akwa Ibom, in the case of unemployment by state, Imo State recorded the highest rate of unemployment with 56.64%.
This was followed by Adamawa with 54.89%, Cross Rivers State, 53.65%, and Yobe with 52.57%.
The States with the lowest rates were Osun, Benue and Zamfara States with 11.65%, 11.98% and 12.99% respectively.
In the case of underemployment, Benue State recorded the highest rate with 43.52%, followed by Zamfara and Jigawa States with 41.73% and 41.29% respectively.
Combining both unemployment and underemployment, the state that recorded the highest rate was Imo with 82.5% followed by Jigawa with 80%.
Ogun and Sokoto states recorded the lowest of the combined rates, 26.2% and 33.7% respectively.
On the national scene, Nigeria is now ranked 41st in the world unemployment rate.
Also, Nigerian youths with A ‘levels as highest qualification record the highest rate of unemployment with 50.7%, followed by those with first degree/HND at 40.1%.
The NBS said those with Doctorate Degrees as their highest qualifications reported the lowest rate of unemployment, 16.9% in the second quarter of 2020.
In the age-groupings, the NBS said the highest rate of unemployment was recorded among the 15-24-year age-group with 53.4%, followed by those aged between 25-34 with 37.0%, together the youth population recorded an unemployment rate of 42.5%.
In the case of underemployment by age grouping, it said those aged between 55-64 recorded an underemployment rate of 25.7%, the highest amongst the age groups.
This was followed by those aged between 45-54 with 24.4%, while those with the lowest underemployment rate were those aged between 15-24 with 19.8%.
A combination of unemployment and underemployment rates shows that those aged between 15-24 reported a combined rate of 73.2%, showing a serious challenge for the age-group in secure full-time employment.
Female unemployment was highest among the genders with 35.2% while male was 31.8% during the reference period.
A similar case was recorded for underemployment, 24.2% was reported for females, while males reported an under-employment rate of 21.8%.
The unemployment rate among rural dwellers was 34.5%, while urban dwellers reported a rate of 31.3%.
In the case of underemployment, rural dwellers reported a rate of 26.9%, while the rate among urban dwellers was 16.2%.
