Nigeria Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Nigeria's industry employment was 17.01% in 2025, ranked 68th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's industry employment stood at 17.01% in 2025, a rise of +0.17% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 17.47% by 2026. Nigeria ranked 68th globally.
Nigeria’s share of the labour force employed in industry rose from 10.08 percent in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 17.01 percent in 2025, placing the country 68th globally. The steepest decline occurred in 1999, when industry employment fell to a trough of 9.35 percent, reflecting the severe macro‑economic shocks of that period. Since the late 1990s, structural reforms, modest expansion of manufacturing, and increased investment in agro‑processing have driven a steady upward trajectory, culminating in the 2025 level that matches Panama (17.01 percent) and approaches Jamaica’s 17.13 percent. Over the 35‑year series, the rise from just above ten percent to the current figure represents a relative increase of nearly 70 percent, signalling a gradual diversification away from a predominantly services‑oriented economy. Continued improvement in infrastructure, electricity reliability and access to finance will be critical to sustain this upward trend and to lift industry employment further in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 18.05% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 17.76% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 17.47% | - | - |
| 2025 | 17.01% | +0.17% | #68 |
| 2024 | 16.84% | +0.02% | #63 |
| 2023 | 16.82% | +0.00% | #64 |
| 2022 | 16.82% | +1.23% | #62 |
| 2021 | 15.59% | +1.11% | #53 |
| 2020 | 14.47% | +1.15% | #44 |
| 2019 | 13.32% | −0.08% | #34 |
| 2018 | 13.40% | −0.04% | #35 |
| 2017 | 13.44% | −0.12% | #37 |
| 2016 | 13.57% | −0.37% | #37 |
| 2015 | 13.94% | −0.10% | #42 |
| 2014 | 14.04% | +0.20% | #42 |
| 2013 | 13.84% | +1.00% | #40 |
| 2012 | 12.84% | +0.82% | #34 |
| 2011 | 12.02% | +0.33% | #32 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nigeria's industry employment was 17.01% in 2025. Ranked 68th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from the previous year.
Nigeria's industry employment peaked at 17.01% in 2025.
The lowest industry employment in Nigeria was 9.35% in 1999.
Nigeria ranks 68th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's industry employment is projected to reach 17.47% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Nigeria in 2025 was 17.01%. This ranks 68th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_industry-employment,
title = {Nigeria Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}