Bridging Lagos Skills Gap: The Real Employment Crisis in Nigeria and How QETDigital Offers a Solution.
- Ebo Emakhu
- Mar 14
- 4 min read

Introduction:
Lagos, the economic hub of Nigeria, faces a paradox—thousands of job vacancies remain unfilled, yet unemployment rates continue to soar. The common narrative is that a skills gap is to blame, but the reality is far more complex because even skilled professionals reject job offers due to poor wages, exploitative work conditions, and lack of career growth opportunities that ultimately contributes to the "thousands of job vacancies, with no takers".
While upskilling remains crucial based on the survey by GetBundi which revealed that over 100 million young Nigerians lack digital skills that limits their access to job opportunities requiring such competence, the real problem is that skilled professionals are undervalued, underpaid, and overworked. The traditional job market is failing to offer young professionals an effective work-life balance and the financial security they need, making these individuals look into alternatives that has been made possible with the digital economy shift opening thousands of job vacancies. Sectors like ICT, finance and management have the highest demand however, in Nigeria, even tech professionals (who should be earning competitive wages) often complain about low pay compared to the workload. This is why QETDigital was designed — an innovative platform designed to empower young professionals to upscale their careers and financial independence using intuitive audiovisual digital products.
The Real Employment Crisis: Underpaid & Overworked Professionals
The recent Nairametrics report highlights that despite over 2,800 job vacancies monthly, many positions remain unfilled. While some attribute this to a lack of skills, the bigger issue is that professionals with the right skills often reject these job offers due to poor pay and excessive workloads.
Underpayment Despite High Demand
Sectors like ICT, finance, and management account for over 60% of vacancies in Lagos, yet, these same industries are notorious for:
-Offering salaries that don’t match skill levels.
-Hiring one person for multiple roles without appropriate compensation.
-Failing to provide competitive benefits like health insurance and pension schemes.
Many young professionals now prefer freelancing, remote work, or migrating abroad rather than settling for underpaying jobs.
Exploitative Work Culture & Job Dissatisfactio
Many employers demand:
- 12+ hour workdays with no overtime pay.
- Multi-tasking across unrelated roles (e.g., an IT staff member doubling as a social media manager).
- Minimal career growth opportunities and no professional development training.
This exploitative system pushes skilled workers away from traditional employment, leading to job vacancies with no takers.
A Generation Seeking Financial Independence
Unlike previous generations that stayed in traditional jobs for stability, today’s young professionals seek financial independence and career fulfillment.
- Many turn to digital entrepreneurship, freelancing, and remote jobs to bypass low wages.
- Those who remain in Nigeria look for alternative income streams rather than relying solely on a monthly salary.
This is why the solution to Lagos' employment crisis isn’t just "more skills"—it’s creating pathways for professionals to earn more on their own terms.
QETDigital: A New Pathway for Career Growth & Financial Upscaling
Recognizing this shifting digital economy, QETDigital provides a solution tailored to young professionals, entry-level graduates, freelancers, and job seekers who want to increase their earning potential while developing relevant digital skills.
1. Audiovisual Learning That Bridges Career & Finance
Unlike traditional courses that focus solely on technical skills, QETDigital offers expert-led audiovisual digital products that teach:
- High-income skills (freelancing, digital marketing, web design, content creation, tech skills, etc.).
- How to monetize skills effectively.
- Personal branding and positioning for global remote jobs.
This means young professionals are not just learning new skills; they are learning how to make money from them.
2. On-The-Go Learning: A New Consumption Habit for Young professionals
QETDigital introduces a modern, engaging way of upskilling that aligns with the consumption habits of young African professionals. Through short, engaging audiovisual content featuring music and voice, learners can absorb high-value career strategies without the need to focus on long, text-heavy materials
3. Independence from Exploitative Jobs
With QETDigital's product, young professionals can:
Learn skills that open up global job opportunities.
Monetize their expertise through freelancing & digital platforms.
Build personal brands that attract high-value clients & employers.
Escape the cycle of underpaid, overworked jobs.
Instead of waiting for Lagos employers to fix wage disparities, young professionals can take charge of their financial future with digital skills that empower them beyond the local job market.
Conclusion: The Future of Work in Lagos & Africa
The employment crisis in Lagos isn’t just about a skills gap—it’s about a pay gap and a work culture gap. the thousands of job vacancies in Lagos is also because skilled professionals are rejecting traditional jobs that does no longer align with their modern career and financial aspirations.
The future of work in Africa is digital, independent, and financially rewarding. QETDigital offers the alternative that today’s professionals need—not just skills, but intuitive strategies for financial and career independence, reshaping how young professionals learn, earn, and grow.
The question isn’t whether Lagos has job vacancies—the real question is: Are young professionals being offered jobs that truly value their skills?
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