Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, several of Nigeria’s leading corporations maintained strong employment numbers in 2024.
The top 10 employers collectively employed 84,491 workers in 2024, spanning sectors such as financial services, industrial goods, and consumer goods. The companies reported a combined N1,695 trillion on employee salary expenses the same year.
This is according to data compiled by Nairametrics research from the financial statements of these companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX)
Nigeria’s youth population aged between 15 to 24 accounted for 55.3% of the total labour force. Within this group, 50.6% were employed, while 8.4% were unemployed. Additionally, 14.4% of youths in this age group were neither in school, employment, nor training (NEET), up from 13.7% in the previous quarter
These top employers play a vital role in mitigating unemployment and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth. Their continued operations provide much-needed opportunities in a country facing rising unemployment rates.
While these are Nigerian listed companies, many have operations across other African countries and in Europe. The reported employee figures cover staff working across these regional operations, not just within Nigeria.
Here is a list of the top 10 largest employers of labour in 2024

- CEO, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Omoboyede Olusanya
Flour Mill ranked ninth among the largest employers of labour in Nigeria with 5,404 employees in 2024, an increase of approximately 9% from 5,919 in the previous year.
The company did not disclose the employee gender distribution in its financial statements
Flour Mill’s total salary expense rose to N57.14 billion in 2024 from N49.68 billion in 2023, representing an increase of about 15% compared to the amount spent on salaries in 2023.
Please I need a mentor in banking . Kindly show me how to find one if you can.
From your analysis ,you failed to tell us the percentage of causal and permanent staff.in each of this organization.