Investigation of Gender Dimensions of Youth Unemployment in Enugu State

Youth unemployment in Nigeria disproportionately affects young women, who face compounded barriers arising from gender discrimination, caregiving obligations, and educational attainment gaps. This study investigates the gender dimensions of youth unemployment in Enugu State, focusing on young people aged 18 to 35 in Enugu Urban, Nkanu East, and Igbo-Eze North Local Government Areas. A descriptive survey design was employed, with 280 respondents comprising unemployed youth, employers, and vocational training officers completing structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using frequency distributions, independent samples t-tests, and chi-square analysis. Findings reveal that female youth unemployment rates are 14 percentage points higher than for their male counterparts, with gender discrimination in hiring, limited access to professional networks, sexual harassment risks in job seeking, and limited mobility identified as primary barriers. Female respondents report significantly higher rates of rejection in male-dominated sectors including engineering, finance, and information technology. Caregiving responsibilities are reported by 61% of female respondents as reducing their available job search and training time. Recommendations include gender-sensitive employment policies for private sector employers, subsidised childcare support linked to vocational training enrolment, and targeted entrepreneurship funding for young women. This study adds to gender and labour market knowledge in South East Nigeria. Keywords: gender, youth unemployment, Enugu State, labour market, gender discrimination