Abstract
This study examined the effect of agricultural sector performance on unemployment rate in
Nigeria over the period of forty-three (43) years (1981 to 2023). Agricultural sector
performance was proxied by crop production, livestock production, forestry production and
fishing production while unemployment rate was the dependent variable. The study utilized
time series data and the data were sourced from World Bank Indicators (WDI) of the World
Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin and National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS) reports. The technique of data analysis adopted include: descriptive statistical
technique, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) of unit root test, correlation matrix of
multicollinearity test, and Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach. The findings of
the study showed that crop production, livestock production and fishing production have
negative and significant effect on unemployment rate in Nigeria. Also, forestry production has
a negative and non-significant effect on unemployment rate in Nigeria. Premised on the
findings, the study concluded that agricultural sector performance significantly influences
unemployment rate in Nigeria. The study therefore, recommends that the government and
private sector should prioritize investments in agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation
systems, rural roads, storage facilities, and processing plants to boast production capacities
thereby reducing unemployment in the country.