Foreign Direct Investment and Employment Generation in Nigeria

Abstract

FDI as a growth stimulating factor is seen as the largest source of external financing to developing countries and helps to ease capital constraints and contributes to output and employment generation. This paper examined the impact of foreign direct investment on employment generation in Nigeria within the period 1991 to 2021. The variables used in the study include employment rate, foreign direct investment, trade openness and real exchange rate. The paper used the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for its regression analysis. The data for the analysis was sourced from CBN statistical bulletin and world bank development indicator. The study finds that foreign direct investment and Trade openness have a positive impact on employment generation in Nigeria. Real exchange rate has a negative impact on employment generation in Nigeria. The paper finds that a short run relationship exists between foreign direct investment, real exchange rate, trade openness and employment generation in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the paper recommends that Government should make effort to attract more Foreign Direct Investment into the country to create more employment opportunities through Multi-National Corporations. The Government should encourage trade openness in order to enhance more Foreign Direct Investment in the country as it will increase the standard of living of the citizens by the provision of highly paid employment.