Construction, Mining, and Manufacturing are driving job growth in 2025, a new Business Expectations Survey by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed.
The report, based on responses from 1,900 firms nationwide, highlights regional employment disparities, sector-specific expansion plans, and emerging skills demand, critical insights for HR professionals and policymakers.
The report, a copy of which was obtained by Anchor News Online showed construction sector topping the new hiring list with 22.2 Index Points; indicating the strongest hiring intent among all sectors, and signalling major infrastructure and real estate projects ongoing in the country.
The data points to a need for skills development in technical fields, in what is sure to challenge HR professionals on how to adopt regionally tailored recruitment strategies and consider alternative staffing solutions. The report also represents an open call on policymakers to address security and economic policy barriers to ensure continued employment growth.
The Business Confidence Index for May stands at 18.7 points and is expected to rise to 41.1 points within six months, reflecting a positive outlook among Nigerian businesses. The construction sector leads in employment projections, with 22.2 index points, while the mining and quarrying sector shows the highest expansion intentions at 73.3%.
The North-East emerged as the most optimistic region, with 36.2 index points, buoyed by improved security and increased investment. In contrast, the South-East recorded the lowest business confidence at 2.3 points, with respondents citing insecurity as a major constraint. The South-West showed steady growth at 16.8 points, supported by the industrial activities in Lagos and Ogun states.
The findings signal growing demand for engineers, safety officers, and skilled technicians, especially in regions experiencing strong infrastructure and extractive industry growth. However, human resource managers face challenges in aligning talent availability with regional opportunities.
Despite the positive outlook, the survey identifies three critical constraints: insecurity (74.5% of firms), high interest rates (73.9%), and rising tax burdens (73.4%). These could delay expansion plans or push firms towards more flexible hiring models such as contract staffing.
Businesses are expected to begin large-scale recruitment from June 2025, with momentum building through to November. While construction firms require immediate staffing, mining companies are planning longer-term expansion into 2026.
As Nigeria’s economy shows signs of recovery, the coming months will determine whether business optimism can be converted into sustained job creation.
