Unemployment Rate in Kwara State 2026

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

4.1% Unemployment Rate Narrow · NBS Q3

8.4% Youth Unemployment Ages 15–34

29.8% Broad Rate (2020) Incl. underemployed

1.5M Labour Force Kwara State

📊 Kwara's 4.1% is 0.2% below the national average (4.3%) · Ranks #24 of 37

📊 Kwara State Unemployment Overview 2026

NBS Q3

Kwara State has an unemployment rate of 4.1% as of NBS Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This places the state at rank #24 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT, below the national average of 4.3%. Approximately 63,000 people in Kwara are unemployed out of a total labour force of 1,540,000.

Youth unemployment in Kwara State stands at 8.4% — significantly higher than the overall rate, reflecting the difficulty young graduates and school-leavers face in accessing formal sector employment. Female unemployment (4.7%) exceeds male unemployment (3.6%), 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 — Kwara's combined unemployment and underemployment rate was approximately 29.8% as of 2020. This figure better captures the full extent of labour market distress than the narrow rate alone.

👥 Unemployment by Category — Kwara State

NBS Q3 disaggregated data

4.1%

Overall Rate

Narrow · ILO

8.4%

Youth (15–34)

Above avg

4.7%

Female Rate

Gender gap

3.6%

Male Rate

Below female

29.8%

Broad Rate

2020 (old method)

63,000

Unemployed Persons

Absolute count

1.54M

Labour Force

Total workforce

#24

National Rank

1 = highest unemp.

⚠️ Why is Unemployment High in Kwara?

Kwara's economy is dominated by government and commerce. Ilorin's strategic position between Lagos and Abuja makes it a commercial transit point, but this has not created deep industrial employment. The state's proximity to Osun and Oyo means skilled workers often migrate south for better opportunities.

Kwara 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 Kwara'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 Kwara State

Kwara's fertile agricultural land and relatively stable security environment support farming investment. The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is one of Nigeria's leading universities, building local graduate talent. Sugar production along the Bacita axis has potential for revival. Ilorin's textile weaving tradition supports a cottage industry.

🏭 Top Employment Sectors — Kwara State

By employment share

Government

~35%

Commerce

~25%

Agriculture

~18%

Education

~14%

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

🏢 Major Employers in Kwara State

🏛️Kwara State Government

🏛️University of Ilorin

🏛️Harmony Bank (legacy)

🏛️Agricultural sector

📊 Kwara vs Nigeria National Average

NBS Q3

Overall Unemployment

4.1%

Kwara

4.3%

National

-0.2%

Youth Unemployment (15–34)

8.4%

Kwara

8.6%

National

-0.2%

Female Unemployment

4.7%

Kwara

5.2%

National

-0.5%

Male Unemployment

3.6%

Kwara

3.7%

National

-0.1%

Broad Rate (2020)

29.8%

Kwara

33.3%

National

-3.5%

🏛️ Government Employment Initiatives in Kwara

The Kwara State Government has implemented several initiatives to address unemployment. At the federal level, programmes targeting Kwara 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 Kwara 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 Kwara with vocational skills including ICT, agriculture, fashion design and catering.

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

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Kwara State Unemployment 2026

The unemployment rate in Kwara State is 4.1% according to the NBS Labour Force Survey Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This is 0.2% below the national average of 4.3%. Kwara ranks #24 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT for unemployment.

Youth unemployment in Kwara State stands at 8.4% (ages 15–34, narrow definition, NBS ). This is significantly higher than the adult unemployment rate of 4.1%, reflecting the challenges young graduates face in finding formal sector employment in Kwara.

The top employment sectors in Kwara State are: Government, Commerce, Agriculture, Education. Major employers include Kwara State Government, University of Ilorin, Harmony Bank (legacy), Agricultural sector.

Kwara State's unemployment rate of 4.1% is 0.2% below Nigeria's national rate of 4.3% (NBS Q3 ). Nationally, Kwara ranks #24 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 Kwara is 4.1% (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 29.8% 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 — North Central zone disaggregated 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%