Hire in Nigeria
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa. Nigerian is an emerging market that boasts of a mixed economy. The main industries of Nigeria include petroleum, tourism, agriculture, and mining. The unemployment rate has witnessed a slight decrease from 8.1% in 2020 to 7.96% in 2021. Nigeria provides a wide range of job opportunities in many of its sectors.
The Nigerian economy is dominated by the oil and gas sector, which contributes around 80% percent to the country’s revenue. It is the most populous country in Africa, opening a door of opportunities for skilled and enthusiastic professionals and graduates. The country is slowly coming back to its pace after the impact of the pandemic, and the employment rates are getting boosted. The country is also a larger exporter of food and imports food products too.
Overview of Nigeria
As of 2021, Nigeria is the 27th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The service sector heavily dominates the economy with a huge share of 54.39%, followed by the manufacturing and agriculture sector. The country is ranked 24th in terms of purchasing power parity and is the largest economy in Africa.
Total Population - 200 million+
GDP- US $429.42 billion (FY 20)
Economic Overview
As per the National Bureau of Statistics reports, the Nigerian economy recovered from the pandemic and is getting back to its pace in 2021 after the pandemic enforced restrictions. The GDP rate has decreased by 1.79% in 2020 compared to the previous year and has reached a valuation of 429.42 billion USD. The GDP rate is expected to grow by 2.53% in the first quarter of 2021.
Market size
The economy of Nigeria is a middle-income mixed economy and is the largest economy in Africa. The expanding industries include manufacturing, technology, financial service, communication, and entertainment sectors. Oil sectors contribute major revenue to the country’s economy. Other larger industries include agriculture, tourism, and mining.
One platform to grow your global team
Hire and pay talent globally, the
hassle-free way with
Talk to an ExpertA brief glimpse of the industries
- The petroleum industry is the largest and most economical industry in Nigeria. The country is ranked in the top ten producers of oil across the world. Petroleum products and crude oil are the main export products. Oil exports generate 14% of the country’s GDP. It also contributes to 83% of the country’s revenue.
- Another major industry is the tourism industry. Nigeria is a popular tourist destination due to its vivid landscape and exotic wildlife. Nightlife experience in Nigeria is also something that travelers like to enjoy. The country has witnessed growth in this sector. The tourism industry accounts for 6% of the country’s GDP.
- The agriculture industry is another dominant industry of Nigeria. It employs about 30% of the country’s labor force and provides a lot of job opportunities. Oil palms are the most in need of a crop as it is used in many industries like cosmetics, plastics, and pharmaceutical industries. Another agricultural product that is in high demand is cocoa.
Cost of living in Nigeria
Nigeria is the largest and most populous country in Africa. It has a lot of tourist places and is free of natural disasters. It is a great place to live in. Ikot Ekpene City and Ibadan city are some of the affordable cities in the country.
Category |
Area of expense |
Estimated cost USD |
Range |
Utilities |
Electricity, Water, Heating, Internet services, Prepaid mobile tariff |
$61.22 (25,162.36 ₦) |
US $37-146 |
Rental rates |
Apartment (1 room) in city and outside city,
Apartment (2-3 rooms) In the city and outside the city.
|
$719.38 (295,666.6₦) (in city)
$473.89 (194770.01₦) (outside city)
1,008,743.15₦) (in city)
$1204.55 (495068.46₦) (outside city)
|
US $298-2311
US $ 195-1095
US $ 852-7299
US $ 487-243
|
Transportation Cost |
One way ticket local transport, Taxi tariff, Gasoline. |
$3.14 (1,291.98₦) |
US $ 2.5-5 |
Food and Beverage |
Grocery, Vegetables, Meat and Poultry |
$21.48 (8,829.54₦) |
US $ 20-30 |
Salaries and Financing |
Average monthly net salary
Interest rates
|
$175 (71942.16₦)
19.38%
|
12.00-30.00%
|
Salary structure for various roles
Average salaries that employees engaged in various sectors across Nigeria has been highlighted below: -
Business Sector |
Average Annual Salary (NN) |
Average Annual Salary (USD) |
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
5,440,000₦ |
$13,236 |
Financial and Insurance Services |
4,080,000₦ |
$9927.01 |
Information Media and Telecommunications |
3,580,000₦ |
$8710.46 |
Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants |
2,710,000₦ |
$6593.67 |
Retail Trade |
4,440,000₦ |
$10,802,92 |
Education and Training |
4,310,000₦ |
$10,486.62 |
Wholesale Trade |
4,440,000₦ |
$10,802.92 |
Arts and Recreation Services |
1,800,000₦ |
$4372.56 |
Administrative and Support Services |
2,110,000₦ |
$5133.82 |
Health Care and Social Assistance |
6,070,000₦ |
$14768.86 |
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services |
4,600,000₦ |
$11,192.21 |
Transport, Postal, Warehousing |
6,530,000₦ |
$15,888.08 |
Construction |
2,390,000₦ |
$5815.09 |
Manufacturing |
2,780,000₦ |
$6763.99 |
Public Administration and Safety |
1,750,000₦ |
$4257.91 |
Mining |
3,660,000₦ |
$8905.11 |
Cost of Renting
The cost of living on rent in Nigeria depends on the facilities desired as well as the size of the house. The cost of renting a one bedroom apartment is around $719.38 (295,666.6₦), depending upon the area. The rent is subjected to an increase depending on the amenities available and the lifestyle desired. Hiring will gather pace in the following sectors in 2021 across Nigeria: -
S. No. |
Top Industries Looking to Hire |
1 |
Oil Sector |
2 |
Professional services and IT sector |
3 |
Agriculture |
4 |
Tourism |
5 |
Petroleum |
6 |
Financial Services |
7 |
Communication |
8 |
Entertainment Sector |
9 |
Healthcare |
10 |
Personal welfare services |
Top skills in Nigeria
Nigeria is a mixed economy and emerging market and is heavily dominated by the service sector. Consequently, it is keen on hiring skilled individuals and highly qualified professionals trained in various hard and soft skills. From a business consultant to a copywriter and graphic designer, there is a wide range of opportunities available for these skills.
Major skills and areas which have witnessed a recent growth rate
- Business
- Project Management
- Language (creative opportunities)
- Graphic Design
- Writing
- Professional skills
Top skills city-wise occupation-wise
Every city in Nigeria has certain features that render them suitable for various types of industries. Nigeria is a beautiful country with a diverse landscape and is a great place to live in that provides a wide range of opportunities for employees from various industries.
- Lagos - Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria. The city is an economic hub of the state of Lagos. It is the major African financial center. Financial corporations, commercial banks, and major headquarters are situated in the city, which opens a wide range of job opportunities. The city is also a center for entertainment sectors, especially movies and music fields. Tourism is another major industry in the city.
- Kanos- Kanos is the second-most populous city in the country. The major industry in the city is the agricultural industry. Peanuts, cotton, skin, and hides are the major export products. Other industries include the commerce and mining industry. The manufacturing industry is also prominent, which includes clothing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, leather, foam rubber products, and candles.
Hiring Cost
When you are conducting a hiring process for your organization, the cost incurred in the hiring process must not be overlooked. Some of the crucial factors that you ought to consider while hiring new personnel are: -
- Onboarding and training processes
- Cost of the hiring process
- Cost of the interview process
- Time required
Employment Laws in Nigeria
Nigeria enjoys a highly regulated employment market wherein local as well as federal laws determine the ambit of an employment contract. As per the labor law in Nigeria, employers must follow the rules and regulations for employment aspects like: -
- Maximum work hours per week
- Leaves and holidays available
- Termination of employment
- Minimum wages
Nigeria Remote Hiring Trends 2022
Hiring Activity in Nigeria
Nigeria is facing a severe unemployment crisis, with a current 2022 unemployment rate of roughly 33%.
There is not enough hiring activity to account for the growing population. Furthermore, many young people did not return to school after the COVID-19 lockdown, which may affect the country's human capital in years to come.
Top Skills in Demand in Nigeria
Because Nigeria's industrial landscape is almost entirely made up of SMEs, hard and soft skills valuable to these businesses are essential to hiring practices this year. The businesses hope to find potential candidates who have tech-focused and customer-forward skills.
Some of the most desirable skills for companies who want to hire employees in Nigeria this year are:
- Software development
- Creative design
- Customer service
- Sales
While these skills translate well to remote work, other specialties like medicine and engineering are more specific to in-person work.
Jobs With the Fastest-Growing Demand in Nigeria
As a result of the digital and consumer-focused skills that companies find desirable in 2022, the following jobs are some of the most in-demand this year:
- Customer support specialist
- Engineer
- Solicitor
- Translator
- SEO specialist
A recent study indicated that most Nigerians prefer to work in the public sector over the private sector (or self-employment) for reasons such as:
- Preferable public image
- Job security
- Economically beneficial
How Can Skuad Help You with Hiring in Nigeria?
When you are organizing recruitment in Nigeria, you must have dedicated resources at your disposal. In the present times, when your focus should be on the optimization of resources, the hassles of recruitment act as a deterrent. Skuad offers a unified employment solution that simplifies every recruitment process by just a click of a button. Connect with Skuad to know more.