Unemployment Rate in Plateau State 2026

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

4.4% Unemployment Rate Narrow · NBS Q3

9.0% Youth Unemployment Ages 15–34

30.4% Broad Rate (2020) Incl. underemployed

1.9M Labour Force Plateau State

📊 Plateau's 4.4% is +0.1% above the national average (4.3%) · Ranks #21 of 37

📊 Plateau State Unemployment Overview 2026

NBS Q3

Plateau State has an unemployment rate of 4.4% as of NBS Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This places the state at rank #21 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT, above the national average of 4.3%. Approximately 85,000 people in Plateau are unemployed out of a total labour force of 1,940,000.

Youth unemployment in Plateau State stands at 9.0% — significantly higher than the overall rate, reflecting the difficulty young graduates and school-leavers face in accessing formal sector employment. Female unemployment (5.0%) exceeds male unemployment (3.9%), 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 — Plateau's combined unemployment and underemployment rate was approximately 30.4% as of 2020. This figure better captures the full extent of labour market distress than the narrow rate alone.

👥 Unemployment by Category — Plateau State

NBS Q3 disaggregated data

4.4%

Overall Rate

Narrow · ILO

9.0%

Youth (15–34)

Above avg

5.0%

Female Rate

Gender gap

3.9%

Male Rate

Below female

30.4%

Broad Rate

2020 (old method)

85,000

Unemployed Persons

Absolute count

1.94M

Labour Force

Total workforce

#21

National Rank

1 = highest unemp.

⚠️ Why is Unemployment High in Plateau?

Plateau State has been severely affected by ethno-religious violence, particularly in Jos North, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom LGAs. These conflicts have killed thousands, displaced hundreds of thousands and disrupted agriculture. Farmer-herder clashes continue to reduce productive agricultural capacity and deter investment.

Plateau 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 Plateau'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 Plateau State

Jos's temperate climate supports vegetable, tomato and flower cultivation that other Nigerian states cannot produce cost-effectively. Plateau's tin mining heritage has left behind columbite and other minerals with export value. Tourism to Jos hills, Shere Hills and Kurra Falls is recovering. NASCO Group's food processing plants create manufacturing employment.

🏭 Top Employment Sectors — Plateau State

By employment share

Agriculture

~35%

Mining (tin)

~25%

Government

~18%

Tourism

~14%

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

🏢 Major Employers in Plateau State

🏛️Plateau State Government

🏛️University of Jos

🏛️NASCO Group

🏛️Mining sector

🏛️Agricultural sector

📊 Plateau vs Nigeria National Average

NBS Q3

Overall Unemployment

4.4%

Plateau

4.3%

National

+0.1%

Youth Unemployment (15–34)

9.0%

Plateau

8.6%

National

+0.4%

Female Unemployment

5.0%

Plateau

5.2%

National

-0.2%

Male Unemployment

3.9%

Plateau

3.7%

National

+0.2%

Broad Rate (2020)

30.4%

Plateau

33.3%

National

-2.9%

🏛️ Government Employment Initiatives in Plateau

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

Private sector development — particularly in the key industries of Tin & columbite mining, Agriculture (temperate crops), Education, Hospitality — is the most sustainable path to reducing unemployment in Plateau State. Federal and state investment in power infrastructure, road connectivity and security would create enabling conditions for private sector job creation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Plateau State Unemployment 2026

The unemployment rate in Plateau State is 4.4% according to the NBS Labour Force Survey Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This is +0.1% above the national average of 4.3%. Plateau ranks #21 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT for unemployment.

Youth unemployment in Plateau State stands at 9% (ages 15–34, narrow definition, NBS ). This is significantly higher than the adult unemployment rate of 4.4%, reflecting the challenges young graduates face in finding formal sector employment in Plateau.

The top employment sectors in Plateau State are: Agriculture, Mining (tin), Government, Tourism. Major employers include Plateau State Government, University of Jos, NASCO Group, Mining sector, Agricultural sector.

Plateau State's unemployment rate of 4.4% is +0.1% above Nigeria's national rate of 4.3% (NBS Q3 ). Nationally, Plateau ranks #21 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 Plateau is 4.4% (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 30.4% 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 with Plateau state 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%