Unemployment Rate in Zamfara State 2026

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

1.6% Unemployment Rate Narrow · NBS Q3

3.8% Youth Unemployment Ages 15–34

19.8% Broad Rate (2020) Incl. underemployed

2.0M Labour Force Zamfara State

📊 Zamfara's 1.6% is 2.7% below the national average (4.3%) · Ranks #37 of 37

📊 Zamfara State Unemployment Overview 2026

NBS Q3

Zamfara State has an unemployment rate of 1.6% as of NBS Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This places the state at rank #37 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT, below the national average of 4.3%. Approximately 32,000 people in Zamfara are unemployed out of a total labour force of 1,980,000.

Youth unemployment in Zamfara State stands at 3.8% — significantly higher than the overall rate, reflecting the difficulty young graduates and school-leavers face in accessing formal sector employment. Female unemployment (2.2%) exceeds male unemployment (1.2%), 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 — Zamfara's combined unemployment and underemployment rate was approximately 19.8% as of 2020. This figure better captures the full extent of labour market distress than the narrow rate alone.

👥 Unemployment by Category — Zamfara State

NBS Q3 disaggregated data

1.6%

Overall Rate

Narrow · ILO

3.8%

Youth (15–34)

Above avg

2.2%

Female Rate

Gender gap

1.2%

Male Rate

Below female

19.8%

Broad Rate

2020 (old method)

32,000

Unemployed Persons

Absolute count

1.98M

Labour Force

Total workforce

#37

National Rank

1 = highest unemp.

⚠️ Why is Unemployment High in Zamfara?

Zamfara is the epicentre of Nigeria's banditry crisis. Armed groups have effectively taken over large rural areas, displacing farmers and destroying livelihoods. Despite having Nigeria's lowest unemployment rate by narrow definition — partly because the labour force survey struggles to reach insecure areas — Zamfara faces some of the country's worst economic hardship. Gold mining, while significant, is largely artisanal and unregulated.

Zamfara 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 Zamfara'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 Zamfara State

Zamfara has Nigeria's largest confirmed gold reserves. The artisanal mining sector employs hundreds of thousands informally. If security improves and industrial gold mining scales up, Zamfara could generate significant formal employment. Agriculture along the Zamfara river valley is productive when security permits. Gusau is a significant livestock market.

🏭 Top Employment Sectors — Zamfara State

By employment share

Agriculture

~35%

Gold mining

~25%

Livestock

~18%

Government

~14%

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

🏢 Major Employers in Zamfara State

🏛️Zamfara State Government

🏛️Gold mining sector (artisanal)

🏛️Agricultural sector

🏛️Federal University Gusau

📊 Zamfara vs Nigeria National Average

NBS Q3

Overall Unemployment

1.6%

Zamfara

4.3%

National

-2.7%

Youth Unemployment (15–34)

3.8%

Zamfara

8.6%

National

-4.8%

Female Unemployment

2.2%

Zamfara

5.2%

National

-3%

Male Unemployment

1.2%

Zamfara

3.7%

National

-2.5%

Broad Rate (2020)

19.8%

Zamfara

33.3%

National

-13.5%

🏛️ Government Employment Initiatives in Zamfara

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

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

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Zamfara State Unemployment 2026

The unemployment rate in Zamfara State is 1.6% according to the NBS Labour Force Survey Q3 (narrow ILO definition). This is 2.7% below the national average of 4.3%. Zamfara ranks #37 among Nigeria's 36 states and FCT for unemployment.

Youth unemployment in Zamfara State stands at 3.8% (ages 15–34, narrow definition, NBS ). This is significantly higher than the adult unemployment rate of 1.6%, reflecting the challenges young graduates face in finding formal sector employment in Zamfara.

The top employment sectors in Zamfara State are: Agriculture, Gold mining, Livestock, Government. Major employers include Zamfara State Government, Gold mining sector (artisanal), Agricultural sector, Federal University Gusau.

Zamfara State's unemployment rate of 1.6% is 2.7% below Nigeria's national rate of 4.3% (NBS Q3 ). Nationally, Zamfara ranks #37 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 Zamfara is 1.6% (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 19.8% 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 — Zamfara has Nigeria's lowest reported unemployment rate; security conditions affect data reliability. 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%