A new Technical Report explores opportunities for youth employment and legal migration between Nigeria and the EU. 

Nigeria, already the most populous country in Africa, has a young and growing population, with a staggering 63% of its citizens under the age of 24. By 2050, its population is projected to reach 400 million. Coupled with economic growth at a yearly rate of approximately 3%, Nigeria is positioned to become an increasingly prominent player on the global stage.

The report shows that despite these positive trends, Nigeria is facing significant challenges in terms of unemployment, underemployment and informal employment.

Underemployment refers to a situation where individuals are employed, but not to their full capacity, often in part-time or low-skilled jobs that do not match their qualifications. Informal employment comprises casual, temporary and seasonal workers who lack access to social protection, employment benefits and full legal status. These issues disproportionately affect women and young people.

Approximately 30% of the working-age population is not working, and 13% has a part-time work. Almost three quarters of workers are self-employed and over 90% are engaged in informal employment.

Economic and labour conditions are important push factors for emigration. According to the latest (2023) Gallup survey, 51% of Nigerians express a desire to migrate, placing Nigeria among the top ten countries in terms of migration desire worldwide. While the largest share of Nigerian migrants still move within the African continent, migration to the EU and US has increased in the past decades.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom are among the most desired destinations. Currently over 260 000 Nigerians reside in the EU, with Italy, Germany and Spain being the top host countries.

The European labour market is expected to have labour shortages in sectors such as agriculture, trade and hospitality that currently employ large numbers of workers in Nigeria.

Other sectors, including construction, ICT, manufacturing and transport, are expected to grow and require new labour force in both Nigeria and the EU. Cooperation on labour migration should therefore be accompanied with investments in skill creation by either upgrading existing skills or developing new ones.

Effective labour migration and skill creation cooperation between the EU and Nigeria could help address the country's unemployment and underemployment challenges, while also contribute to meeting the EU's labour market needs. A collaborative approach could contribute to mutually beneficial outcomes, including job creation, economic growth and reduced irregular migration.