Healthcare, technology and agriculture top Nigerians’ job rankings across regions

A survey conducted by SBM Intelligence has revealed that healthcare, technology, and agriculture are the top job sectors Nigerians want across the country's six geopolitical zones. The findings challenge the notion of a single national employment crisis, suggesting instead six distinct labor market economies with varying job preferences.

The report, based on a nationwide survey of 1,180 respondents, found that national priorities included technology, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and trade. However, preferences varied significantly by region, reflecting the unique productive strengths, economic constraints, and opportunities within each area. Northern Nigeria, which is the country's major food-producing belt, saw agriculture as a top priority, while the Southeast's industrial clusters around Aba, Nnewi, and Onitsha resulted in manufacturing ranking high.

Urban and rural communities also had different priorities, with urban areas focusing on technology and rural areas on healthcare. The report's author, SBM Intelligence, argued that these regional preferences indicate a fundamentally regionalized labor market in Nigeria, rather than a uniform national employment demand.