The Potentials of Hand and Machine Embroidery Industries in Creating Job Opportunities to Youths in Keffi, Nassarawa State

Abstract

This paper examines the potentials of hand and machine embroidery industries in creating job opportunities for youths in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The research was motivated by the persistent problem of youth unemployment and the need for sustainable, skill-based economic alternatives within the small-scale industrial sector. A quantitative research method adopting a survey design was employed for the study. The population comprised hand and machine embroiderers, marketers, consumers, and unemployed youths drawn from six districts in Keffi. Using stratified random sampling, a total of 536 respondents were selected. Data were collected through a structured five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and inventory checklist, with validity and reliability established through expert judgment and pilot testing. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation, were used for data analysis with the aid of SPSS. Findings revealed that hand and machine embroidery industries possess significant potential for job creation through skill acquisition, apprenticeship training, self-employment, and entrepreneurship. The study further established that embroidery practices provide decent income for practitioners and can transform unemployed youths into employers of labour rather than job seekers. The study concludes that hand and machine embroidery industries are viable instruments for youth empowerment and socio-economic development in Keffi. It therefore recommends the establishment of embroidery training centres, policy support, and sustained skill-development programmes to harness the full employment potentials of the industry.

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