Nigeria is among developing countries facing growing pressure to create jobs for a rapidly expanding young population, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that a record 1.2 billion young people will enter developing-world labour markets over the next decade….
Nigeria is among developing countries facing growing pressure to create jobs for a rapidly expanding young population, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that a record 1.2 billion young people will enter developing-world labour markets over the next decade.
The IMF said the huge influx of young workers would coincide with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which is already changing the nature of work and raising fresh questions about employment prospects.
In a post on X, the IMF shared findings from its Finance & Development magazine, which examined the challenges facing young people entering the workforce, particularly in developing economies.
The Fund said the scale of the coming workforce expansion presents both an opportunity and a challenge for developing countries, which will need to generate sufficient productive employment for millions of new entrants.
For Nigeria, where young people make up a significant share of the population, the projection places renewed focus on job creation, skills development and the country’s ability to prepare its workforce for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The growing use of AI could alter demand for certain occupations while creating new opportunities in technology, digital services and other emerging sectors.
The IMF noted that young people entering the labour market will have to navigate an increasingly uncertain employment landscape as AI changes how businesses operate and the skills employers require.
The Fund’s warning comes as developing economies face the twin challenge of absorbing a growing working-age population and ensuring that young people acquire skills that remain relevant as technology advances.
The IMF analysis was contained in an article by Harry Jacques in the September 2026 edition of Finance & Development magazine, which examines the future of work for young people in developing economies.
