A new report by Jobberman Nigeria, titled “Technology and Employment Inclusion in Marginalised Contexts” (2025), provides fresh insights into these realities — revealing how PWDs are navigating both digital and physical worlds to access employment. The research highlights a growing “phygital” job-seeking approach — a hybrid of traditional and digital methods — that reflects resilience, creativity, and adaptation within the disability community.
WhatsApp: The Unlikely Job Marketplace
Among the most effective tools in this hybrid approach is WhatsApp. The platform’s simplicity, low data usage, and community-driven networks have made it the leading digital space for job searches among PWDs. According to Jobberman’s findings, 45% of PWDs use WhatsApp for job hunting, with a 55% success rate — higher than other popular social media platforms.
Unlike open job boards such as LinkedIn, which can be cluttered with irrelevant listings or fraudulent ads, WhatsApp offers a more personal and trust-based experience. However, platforms like Facebook and Instagram, though widely used, are often hindered by algorithmic filters and scams that dilute their effectiveness.
Formal Job Platforms: Promise and Perception Gaps
While awareness of structured platforms such as Jobberman and LinkedIn is growing, adoption among PWDs remains limited. Many cite accessibility issues, complex interfaces, and low awareness as barriers. Even when PWDs successfully navigate these challenges, they often encounter bias from employers who question their capability.
To counteract discrimination, some candidates resort to concealing their disabilities online, avoiding photos or personal disclosures and preferring virtual interviews to secure fair consideration. These strategies reflect both ingenuity and the persistent inequities that define Nigeria’s employment ecosystem.
Inclusion Across Sectors and Regions
Interestingly, Nigeria’s informal sector demonstrates greater inclusivity than the formal one. The report shows that 33.6% of employers in the informal sector hire PWDs, compared to 27.6% in the formal economy. This trend is attributed to the informal sector’s flexibility and fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
Industries like agriculture (35.9%) and the creative sector (28.3%) stand out for their openness to hiring PWDs, as do emerging digital and retail spaces where remote and freelance work thrive.
Regional patterns also defy expectation. Kano State, for instance, reports an impressive 56.2% inclusion rate, far surpassing Lagos at 13.9%. This difference reflects the strength of community networks and a grassroots-driven culture of adaptation in northern Nigeria.
Digital Skills and Accessibility: The Next Frontier
Despite progress, significant gaps persist in digital literacy, education, and soft skills such as negotiation and self-confidence. Many PWDs remain limited by the absence of accessible infrastructure — from ramps and transport systems to screen-reader-compatible websites. Without targeted investment, these shortcomings risk widening inequality in a job market increasingly dominated by digital fluency.
Jobberman’s Commitment to Inclusive Growth
As Nigeria’s leading recruitment platform, Jobberman Nigeria is taking proactive steps to bridge these divides. Its platform has been redesigned to be screen-reader friendly and low-bandwidth compatible, ensuring accessibility for all users. Through collaborations with the Mastercard Foundation and disability-focused organisations, Jobberman is equipping thousands of marginalized youth, including PWDs, with soft skills, entrepreneurship training, and digital literacy.
Beyond empowering job seekers, Jobberman is also working directly with employers — hosting inclusive hiring roundtables, offering data-driven insights, and promoting best practices for equitable recruitment. Its advocacy extends to policy circles, pushing for employment quotas, legal protections, and incentives to encourage businesses to embrace disability inclusion as a core value.
Inclusion as a National Imperative
Experts agree that sustainable progress requires collective responsibility. Employers must implement inclusive hiring and create adaptive work environments. Policymakers must enforce disability-friendly laws and invest in infrastructure. Training institutions must prioritise accessibility in their curricula and digital content. And the media must spotlight stories of PWDs who are succeeding across industries, helping to challenge stigma and reshape public perception.
Ultimately, disability inclusion is both a moral and economic imperative. Unlocking the potential of all Nigerians — regardless of ability — is vital to national innovation and growth.
As Jobberman’s research underscores, the path toward inclusion is clearer than ever: through collaboration, accessibility, and a shared commitment to equity, Nigeria’s workforce can become truly representative of its people’s diverse strengths.
Read the full report at: https://www.jobberman.com/research