Unemployment rate in Nigeria rises to 8.2%

 

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, yesterday disclosed that the nation’s unemployment rate has in the second quarter (Q2) of 2015 risen to 8.2 per cent from the 7.5 per cent rate which was recorded in the preceding quarter. This brings to three the consecutive rise in unemployment rate in the country since the third quarter of 2014.

The Bureau explained that the economically active population or working age, comprising persons within the age range of 15 to 64, increased to 103.5 million in the second quarter (Q2), up from 102.8 million in the first quarter.

This was as it disclosed that the labour force population, comprising those within the working age, who are willing, able and actively looking for work, increased to 74.0 million in Q2 from 73.4 million in Q1, indicating an increase in the labour force by 0.81 per cent