Influence of socio-economic status on labour market access among employees in selected work organisations in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigated the influence of socio-economic background on job opportunities in selected banks in Lagos, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using a set of questionnaires administered on 1,583 employees randomly selected from the branches. Data were analysed at both univariate and bivariate levels. Findings show that socio-economic status background of jobseekers plays a key role in labour market access. The regression analysis showed that socio-economic status – fathers’ level of education (β = 0.224, P=0.003), mothers’ level of education (β = 0.175, P= 0.021), fathers’ employment status (β = 0.314, P=0.038), and mothers’ employment status (β = 0.282, P=0.006), significantly contributed to access to available jobs in the labour market. The study concluded that differences exist between job seekers from privileged and disadvantaged families while striving to gain access to labour market. Those from higher socio-economic background are more likely to gain access to jobs than those from lower socio-economic status. Work organizations are enjoined to provide equal playing grounds and opportunities for all job seekers so that the full range of talents available to them can be discovered and utilised for effective performance in the workplace.