Nigerian manufacturing creates 81,174 jobs in 2025
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Businessday
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector created 81,174 jobs in 2025, up 133.47% year on year from 34,769 in 2024. However, the sector slowed sharply in the second half amid energy costs and weaker demand, according to Segun Ajayi-Kadir, cited by BusinessDay.
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector created 81,174 jobs in 2025, compared with 34,769 in 2024, an increase of 133.47% year on year, according to Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), cited by BusinessDay. The figures were presented in Lagos at the organisation’s annual general meeting.
The increase was concentrated in the first half of the year, with 62,906 jobs created, before slowing sharply to 18,268 in the second half, a fall of about 71% in six months. The initial recovery was supported by greater exchange-rate stability for imported inputs, improved business confidence and growth in manufactured exports.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir described the employment situation as “significant but unstable”. Rising energy costs, weak purchasing power and the cost of credit curbed recruitment in the second half. Energy spending accounted for more than 30% of production costs in some sub-sectors, while commercial lending rates exceeded 30%.
Manufacturing investment also rose by 102% to 1.33 trillion naira in 2025, according to an earlier MAN report. The increase was linked in particular to projects to integrate production chains locally.
