Unemployment Rate in Oyo State 2026

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

6.2% Unemployment Rate Narrow · NBS Q3

12.4% Youth Unemployment Ages 15–34

35.8% Broad Rate (2020) Incl. underemployed

3.8M Labour Force Oyo State

📊 Oyo's 6.2% is +1.9% above the national average (4.3%) · Ranks #8 of 37

📊 Oyo State Unemployment Overview 2026

NBS Q3

Oyo State has an unemployment rate of 6.2% as of NBS Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This places the state at rank #8 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT, above the national average of 4.3%. Approximately 235,000 people in Oyo are unemployed out of a total labour force of 3,780,000.

Youth unemployment in Oyo State stands at 12.4% — significantly higher than the overall rate, reflecting the difficulty young graduates and school-leavers face in accessing formal sector employment. Female unemployment (7.0%) exceeds male unemployment (5.5%), 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 — Oyo's combined unemployment and underemployment rate was approximately 35.8% as of 2020. This figure better captures the full extent of labour market distress than the narrow rate alone.

👥 Unemployment by Category — Oyo State

NBS Q3 disaggregated data

6.2%

Overall Rate

Narrow · ILO

12.4%

Youth (15–34)

Above avg

7.0%

Female Rate

Gender gap

5.5%

Male Rate

Below female

35.8%

Broad Rate

2020 (old method)

235,000

Unemployed Persons

Absolute count

3.78M

Labour Force

Total workforce

National Rank

1 = highest unemp.

⚠️ Why is Unemployment High in Oyo?

Oyo is one of Nigeria's largest states by population and has a correspondingly large number of unemployed persons. Ibadan's large informal economy absorbs many workers at low incomes. The once-thriving Ogun-Osun River Basin cotton textile industry has largely collapsed. Graduate unemployment is high given Ibadan's large student population.

Oyo 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 Oyo'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 Oyo State

Ibadan's position as Nigeria's largest city by land area and a major commercial hub drives trade employment. The Ibadan Industrial Estate is being revitalised. The University of Ibadan's research capacity supports biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. Oyo's agricultural land supports large-scale cassava, yam and cocoa farming. The Lagos-Ibadan corridor is one of Nigeria's busiest economic axes.

🏭 Top Employment Sectors — Oyo State

By employment share

Commerce

~35%

Agriculture

~25%

Education

~18%

Manufacturing

~14%

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

🏢 Major Employers in Oyo State

🏛️University of Ibadan

🏛️Oyo State Government

🏛️Ibadan commercial sector

🏛️Chi Farms

🏛️Agro-Allied industries

📊 Oyo vs Nigeria National Average

NBS Q3

Overall Unemployment

6.2%

Oyo

4.3%

National

+1.9%

Youth Unemployment (15–34)

12.4%

Oyo

8.6%

National

+3.8%

Female Unemployment

7.0%

Oyo

5.2%

National

+1.8%

Male Unemployment

5.5%

Oyo

3.7%

National

+1.8%

Broad Rate (2020)

35.8%

Oyo

33.3%

National

+2.5%

🏛️ Government Employment Initiatives in Oyo

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

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

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Oyo State Unemployment 2026

The unemployment rate in Oyo State is 6.2% according to the NBS Labour Force Survey Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This is +1.9% above the national average of 4.3%. Oyo ranks #8 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT for unemployment.

Youth unemployment in Oyo State stands at 12.4% (ages 15–34, narrow definition, NBS ). This is significantly higher than the adult unemployment rate of 6.2%, reflecting the challenges young graduates face in finding formal sector employment in Oyo.

The top employment sectors in Oyo State are: Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Manufacturing. Major employers include University of Ibadan, Oyo State Government, Ibadan commercial sector, Chi Farms, Agro-Allied industries.

Oyo State's unemployment rate of 6.2% is +1.9% above Nigeria's national rate of 4.3% (NBS Q3 ). Nationally, Oyo ranks #8 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 Oyo is 6.2% (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 35.8% 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 — South-West zone with Oyo state breakdown. 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%