The paper assessed the rate of unemployment before and during the millennium development goals (MDGs). The purpose was to ascertain the extent to which MDGs strategies and programs have assisted in the reduction of unemployment in Nigeria. Secondary data gathered between 1985 and 2018 was used in the evaluation. Findings showed the unemployment rates before the implementation of the MDGs program (1985-1999) were relatively stable at one digit, with the highest rate being 7.1% in 1987 while the average rate for the referenced period stood at 3.74%. The contrast was the case when MDGs were introduced in the year 2000, in which year the unemployment rate jumped from 3.0% in 1999 to 26.8% in 2015, representing an increase of over 700%. During the period of the MDGs (2000-2015), unemployment rate assumed two digits, increasing from 13.1% in 2000 to 26.8% in 2015, averaging about 17.7% with its attendant impact on the livelihood of the average citizen. The sharp rise in unemployment rates during the period of MDGs is a piece of evidence that the MDG programs, despite its laudable objectives, failed to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty. The reasons for this could be attributed to, but not limited to poor and uncoordinated funding of the program, targets mismatch and absence of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the MDGs projects. The study also revealed that there exists a somewhat positive relationship between unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. The paper recommended among others that MDGs project goals should be measurable, monitored and evaluated, recognize the effect of violence, militancy, and insurgency on development programs and finally, government should vigorously pursue productive employment creation for the realization of its inclusive growth potentials, if the post-2015 Global Development Agenda is to succeed.