The disability gap in employment in developing economies: Evidence from the Nigerian labour market

Abstract

A viable and functional labour market is a sin qua non for economic development. This study thus examines the evidence of disability-related employment discrimination in Nigeria. Utilising the Fairlie decomposition technique in analysing households’ data elicited from wave 4 of the General Household Survey, the study found that the disability gap in employment was plausibly existent in Nigeria. The study therefore suggested, among other viable options, that policies aimed at promoting the elimination of physical obstacles in workplaces while also ensuring equitable training opportunities for individuals with disabilities should be rigorously pursued. There is a need to enact more stringent anti- discriminatory policies in Nigeria, with individuals having functional difficulties being the focal target.

Keywords

• discrimination
• employment
• disability
• fairlie decomposition
• labour