Title: Economic growth and unemployment in Nigeria: an empirical perspective

Authors: Timothy Ayomitunde Aderemi; Lydia Omolola Ojelade; Odunayo Femi Ogunsanwo; Samson Oluwole Olowo; Samuel Adekunle Efunbajo

Addresses: Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria ' National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria ' Department of Banking and Finance, Federal University of Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria ' Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria ' Department of Economics, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, Nigeria

Abstract: In the past decades, the Nigerian economy had experienced substantial economic growth before the economy slipped into recession in 2015. It is highly paradoxical that economic growth has not metamorphosed into employment generation in the country during these years. As such this study examined the relationship between economic growth and unemployment in Nigeria within the framework of ARDL and ECM. Consequently, the findings that originated from study could be summarised as follows: economic growth and unemployment rate have a significant positive relationship in the short run. This implies that the Nigerian economy experienced jobless growth in the short run but reverse is the case in the long run. Finally, this study recommends that if inclusive growth (unemployment reduction) is the goal of the policy makers in Nigeria, policies that will ensure increasing productivity in all the sectors of the economy and discouraging importation should be embarked upon in the country.

Keywords: economic growth; unemployment; jobless growth; ARDL; ECM; Nigeria; short run; long run.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2022.125639

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2022 Vol.18 No.5/6, pp.622 - 634

Received: 01 Jul 2020
Accepted: 10 Jan 2021

Published online: 18 Sep 2022 *

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