Data from the National Bureau of Statistics has shown that more than 4 million Nigerians lost their jobs between January and September 2017.
Analyses of the data showed that the number of people that lost their jobs rose from 11.92 million in the first quarter (January to March) of this year to 13.58 million in the second quarter (April to June) and 15.99 million in the third quarter (July to September).
During the same period, the working population in the nation increased from 110.3 million to 111.1 million.
A statement from the NBS said in part, “The labor force population increased from 83. 9 million in Q 2 2017 to 85. 1 million in Q 3 2017 . The total number of people in full -time employment (at least 40 hours a week ) declined from 52. 7 million in Q 2 2017 to 51 . 1 million in Q 3 2017.
“The unemployment rate increased from 14 . 2 per cent in Q 4 2016 to 16. 2 per cent in Q 2 2017 and 18. 8 per cent in Q 3 2017.
“The number of people within the labor force who are unemployed or underemployed increased from 13 . 6 million and 17. 7 million respectively in Q 2 2017 , to 15 . 9 million and 18. 0 million in Q 3 2017.
“Total unemployment and underemployment combined increased from 37 . 2 per cent in the previous quarter to 40 per cent in Q 3 2017.”