A new report by Jobberman Nigeria has uncovered a troubling trend of exclusion in the country’s labour market, revealing that nearly 90 percent of employers overlook marginalised groups in their recruitment processes. The findings, presented at the Technology and Employment Inclusion in Marginalised Contexts Roundtable in Abuja, highlight widespread inequality in access to employment for women in disadvantaged communities, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The roundtable, organised by Jobberman in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the Young Nigeria Works programme, convened stakeholders from government, the private sector, digital platforms, and civil society to tackle structural barriers to employment inclusion.
The CEO of The African Talent Company, Jobberman’s parent organisation, stressed that technology must serve as a driver of equity, not exclusion. She called for a more inclusive digital ecosystem that centres the needs of underserved groups, rather than leaving them behind in the shift towards tech-driven employment.
Echoing this view, a representative from Sterling Financial Holdings noted that technology can only be transformative if it is intentionally designed to be inclusive. She urged collaboration between government, businesses, and NGOs to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide through strategic investments in infrastructure and digital skill-building.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, the federal government expressed concern over persistent gaps in employment access for PWDs and displaced persons. The official urged a reform of the National Disability Act to include private sector hiring quotas that would guarantee fair participation of persons with disabilities in the economy.
The Head of Inclusion at Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Dr Kafui Mills-Odoi, reiterated the importance of human-centred digital solutions. She noted that while technology opens new possibilities, it must be designed to break down—not reinforce—barriers to dignified work.
Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Rosy Fynn, added that inclusion must become the central priority in Africa’s economic development strategy. She affirmed the Foundation’s goal to enable 30 million young Africans—especially women—to access fulfilling employment by 2030.
According to the report, most employers in Nigeria’s formal sector make no deliberate effort to include marginalized populations. Specifically, 72 percent reported no structured approach to inclusion, while nine in ten admitted they do not actively consider PWDs or IDPs in their hiring practices. Key reasons cited include challenges with skills assessment and lack of transportation.
Despite these barriers, the report noted some resilience among marginalised groups. Fifty-five percent of PWDs and 44 percent of women in IDP communities have managed to find work, mostly through self-employment in fields such as agriculture and creative media.
However, major gaps in education and training persist. The report revealed that 85 percent of Nigerian schools are not equipped to accommodate PWDs, and 63 percent of individuals with disabilities lack the necessary skills for formal employment. In response, 28 percent of employers in southern Nigeria have expressed the need for subsidized inclusivity training.
The report also pointed to the emerging role of digital tools and remote work in widening access to employment. Stakeholders at the roundtable called for increased investment in inclusive technologies and suggested that public recognition of inclusive employers could help shift hiring norms.
Breakout sessions during the event focused on strategies to support vulnerable groups and generated recommendations for policy and advocacy efforts aimed at improving equitable access to jobs across Nigeria’s diverse and underserved communities.
