The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday said that 7.53 million Nigerians are presently unemployed, at the end of the third quarter of 2017.
According to the NBS report, of a labour force of 85.08 million in Q3 2017, 77.55 million are engaged in some sort of economic activity for at least an hour a week (8.46 million, 1-19 hours; 18.02 million, 20-39 hours; 51.06million, above 40 hours), while 7.3 are unemployed.
The organisation noted that it classified those working less than 20 hours a week and those doing absolutely nothing as unemployed, those working 20 to 39 hours or doing jobs not commensurate with their qualifications and skills as underemployed.
The NBS explained that, out of 8.46 million persons that work within 19 hours a week, 1.83 million or 21.67% work for pay/wage.
In the same vein, 5.84 million or 69.03% are self-employed working in agriculture (4.18 million or 49.44%) and non-agriculture-related activities (1.65 million or 19.58%), while 83,978 or 0.99% are paid apprentices and 703,240 or 8.31% are unpaid house workers.
The report said, under this working hours category, agriculture, with 59.02% or 5.01 million persons, dominates, followed by trade (9.7%), professional, scientific and technical services (7.0%).
Out of 18.02 million persons that work within 20 and 39 hours a week and classified as underemployed, 3.77 million or 20.96% work for pay/wage, 11.60 million or 64.36% are self-employed working in agriculture (6.62million or 36.72%) and non-agriculture related activities (4.98 million or 27.64%).
The NBS said that 231,671 or 1.28% are paid apprentice and 2.41 million or 13.39% are unpaid houseworkers.
It added further, “Under this working hours category, agriculture with 52.20% or 9.40 million persons dominates followed by trade (13.2%).”
For other services, NBS stated that “7.0% out of 51.06 million persons that work above 40 hours a week and were classified as employed full-time, 14.10 million or 27.62% work for pay/wage, 33.80 million or 66.33% are self-employed working in agriculture (18.85 million or  36.92%) and non-agriculture related activities (15.01 million or 29.41%), 547,330 or 1.07% are paid apprentices and 2.54 million or 4.98% are unpaid houseworkers.”
Meanwhile of a total employed (full-time employed and underemployed, which is above 20 working hours a week), 69.09 million, out of which 17.88million or 25.88% work for pay/ wage, 45.47 million or 65.82%, self-employed.
The agriculture sector has 25.47 million or 36.87% and non-agriculture related activities 20.0 million or 28.95%.
Equally, 779,002 or 1.13% are paid apprentice and 4.95 million or 7.17% are unpaid house workers.

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