Impact of Unemployment on Economic Development in Nigeria: A Study of Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Areas of Taraba State

This study examined the impact of unemployment on economic development in Nigeria, with specific reference to Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Areas of Taraba State. The study was motivated by the persistence of unemployment at the sub-national level despite periodic improvements in national growth figures, raising questions about whether unemployment genuinely constrains local economic development. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. The population of the study comprised all residents of Jalingo and Ardo-Kola, estimated at 290,500 persons, from which a sample of 399 was determined using the Taro Yamane formula and distributed proportionately across the two Local Government Areas through simple random sampling. Structured questionnaires served as the main instrument of data collection, complemented by observation and documented secondary materials. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and chi-square statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that unemployment had a statistically significant effect on both household income/productivity and broader economic development in the study area, with the effect on household income and productivity being comparatively stronger. The study recommends that government and non-governmental actors prioritise labour-intensive industrialisation and strengthen local economic diversification in Jalingo and Ardo-Kola.