Unemployment Rate in Borno State 2026

Current statistics, youth unemployment, gender breakdown, sector analysis and comparison with national average — August 2026.

3.1% Unemployment Rate Narrow · NBS Q3

7.2% Youth Unemployment Ages 15–34

27.8% Broad Rate (2020) Incl. underemployed

2.1M Labour Force Borno State

📊 Borno's 3.1% is 1.2% below the national average (4.3%) · Ranks #31 of 37

📊 Borno State Unemployment Overview 2026

NBS Q3

Borno State has an unemployment rate of 3.1% as of NBS Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This places the state at rank #31 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT, below the national average of 4.3%. Approximately 66,000 people in Borno are unemployed out of a total labour force of 2,140,000.

Youth unemployment in Borno State stands at 7.2% — significantly higher than the overall rate, reflecting the difficulty young graduates and school-leavers face in accessing formal sector employment. Female unemployment (3.9%) exceeds male unemployment (2.5%), consistent with the national pattern of gender-based labour market exclusion.

Under the old NBS broad methodology — which included underemployment and those working under 20 hours per week — Borno's combined unemployment and underemployment rate was approximately 27.8% as of 2020. This figure better captures the full extent of labour market distress than the narrow rate alone.

👥 Unemployment by Category — Borno State

NBS Q3 disaggregated data

3.1%

Overall Rate

Narrow · ILO

7.2%

Youth (15–34)

Above avg

3.9%

Female Rate

Gender gap

2.5%

Male Rate

Below female

27.8%

Broad Rate

2020 (old method)

66,000

Unemployed Persons

Absolute count

2.14M

Labour Force

Total workforce

#31

National Rank

1 = highest unemp.

⚠️ Why is Unemployment High in Borno?

Borno has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009. While Maiduguri has remained relatively stable, large swathes of the state remain insecure, displacing farmers and traders. The narrow unemployment rate appears low because the large IDP population may not be counted in standard labour force surveys, and many people work in subsistence activities.

Borno State shares several structural challenges common across Nigerian states: a growing youth population entering the labour market faster than the formal economy creates jobs, limited industrial development relative to population size, and a public sector that cannot sustainably expand employment to absorb graduates.

Skills mismatch is a persistent challenge — employers in Borno's key industries report difficulty finding candidates with the right technical and vocational skills, while graduates with general degrees find limited opportunities. Bridging this gap through vocational education and apprenticeship programmes is a key policy priority.

🌱 Employment Opportunities in Borno State

Post-conflict reconstruction in Borno is attracting federal government infrastructure spending. The humanitarian sector (UN, NGOs) employs thousands of Borno residents. Lake Chad's partial recovery offers fishing opportunities. The Borno Alternative Livelihood Programme supports former combatants and IDPs.

🏭 Top Employment Sectors — Borno State

By employment share

Agriculture

~35%

Government

~25%

Trade

~18%

Humanitarian sector

~14%

Note: Sector employment shares are approximate estimates for Borno State based on NBS LFS Q3 and state economic profile data.

🏢 Major Employers in Borno State

🏛️Borno State Government

🏛️UN agencies (UNHCR, WFP)

🏛️NGOs

🏛️Federal Government agencies

📊 Borno vs Nigeria National Average

NBS Q3

Overall Unemployment

3.1%

Borno

4.3%

National

-1.2%

Youth Unemployment (15–34)

7.2%

Borno

8.6%

National

-1.4%

Female Unemployment

3.9%

Borno

5.2%

National

-1.3%

Male Unemployment

2.5%

Borno

3.7%

National

-1.2%

Broad Rate (2020)

27.8%

Borno

33.3%

National

-5.5%

🏛️ Government Employment Initiatives in Borno

The Borno State Government has implemented several initiatives to address unemployment. At the federal level, programmes targeting Borno residents include the N-Power graduate employment scheme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) providing micro-loans to traders and farmers, and the Anchor Borrowers Programme which finances smallholder farmers.

The Borno State Ministry of Economic Planning and the State Employment Trust Fund (where established) coordinate local economic empowerment activities. NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programmes equip corps members serving in Borno with vocational skills including ICT, agriculture, fashion design and catering.

Private sector development — particularly in the key industries of Government, Humanitarian operations, Agriculture, Trade — is the most sustainable path to reducing unemployment in Borno State. Federal and state investment in power infrastructure, road connectivity and security would create enabling conditions for private sector job creation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Borno State Unemployment 2026

The unemployment rate in Borno State is 3.1% according to the NBS Labour Force Survey Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This is 1.2% below the national average of 4.3%. Borno ranks #31 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT for unemployment.

Youth unemployment in Borno State stands at 7.2% (ages 15–34, narrow definition, NBS ). This is significantly higher than the adult unemployment rate of 3.1%, reflecting the challenges young graduates face in finding formal sector employment in Borno.

The top employment sectors in Borno State are: Agriculture, Government, Trade, Humanitarian sector. Major employers include Borno State Government, UN agencies (UNHCR, WFP), NGOs, Federal Government agencies.

Borno State's unemployment rate of 3.1% is 1.2% below Nigeria's national rate of 4.3% (NBS Q3 ). Nationally, Borno ranks #31 among 37 states and FCT. The state with the highest unemployment is Imo (9.8%) and the lowest is Zamfara (1.6%).

The narrow unemployment rate in Borno is 3.1% (ILO definition — people without work, available and actively seeking). The broad rate — which includes underemployment and people working fewer than 20 hours/week — was approximately 27.8% under the old NBS methodology last measured in 2020. Nigeria switched to the narrow ILO definition in 2021. Both figures are valid but measure different aspects of labour market distress.

📊 Data source: NBS Q3 — Note: IDP population may affect accuracy of Borno unemployment data. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Labour Force Survey. All unemployment figures use the ILO narrow definition unless marked "broad". Data accuracy for conflict-affected states may be affected by IDP displacement. Page updated: August 2026. Source: nigerianstat.gov.ng ↗

Unemployment Rate by State in Nigeria — 2026

📉 Abia — 7.2% 📉 Adamawa — 3.8% 📉 Akwa Ibom — 8.9% 📉 Anambra — 6.8% 📉 Bauchi — 2.8% 📉 Bayelsa — 6.7% 📉 Benue — 4.1% 📉 Borno — 3.1% 📉 Cross River — 5.3% 📉 Delta — 5.9% 📉 Ebonyi — 4.8% 📉 Edo — 5.6% 📉 Ekiti — 5.1% 📉 Enugu — 5.4% 📉 FCT Abuja — 5.1% 📉 Gombe — 3.4% 📉 Imo — 9.8% 📉 Jigawa — 2.4% 📉 Kaduna — 4.8% 📉 Kano — 3.2% 📉 Katsina — 2.8% 📉 Kebbi — 1.9% 📉 Kogi — 4.3% 📉 Kwara — 4.1% 📉 Lagos — 7.4% 📉 Nasarawa — 3.9% 📉 Niger — 3.3% 📉 Ogun — 4.6% 📉 Ondo — 4.9% 📉 Osun — 4.7% 📉 Oyo — 6.2% 📉 Plateau — 4.4% 📉 Rivers — 8.1% 📉 Sokoto — 2.3% 📉 Taraba — 3.6% 📉 Yobe — 2.9% 📉 Zamfara — 1.6%