INFORMAL SECTOR AND JOB CREATION IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS: A FOCUS ON HAIR SALOON IN MAKURDI

This study examined the role of the informal sector, with a specific focus on hair salons, in job creation within Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys of 120 respondents and in-depth interviews with salon owners, employees, and apprentices. The study utilized the Feminist Political Economy Theory as the framework of analysis. The study found that hair salons contribute significantly to employment generation, particularly among women and youth. The findings revealed that hair salons offer diverse employment opportunities, including roles as stylists, apprentices, receptionists, and product vendors. Factors influencing employment capacity included access to capital, customer demand, availability of skilled labour, and business space. The study also identified challenges such as limited access to credit, unreliable electricity supply, high competition, and harassment from regulatory authorities, all of which constrain sustainable job creation. Apprenticeship programs emerged as a vital mechanism for skill development and future entrepreneurship, facilitating indirect job creation. The study concludes that the hair salon subsector plays a crucial role in alleviating unemployment and enhancing women's economic empowerment in Makurdi. It recommends that government and financial institutions provide accessible microcredit schemes, technical training, and infrastructure support to strengthen the sector’s capacity for sustainable employment generation.