DOES TRADE LIBERALIZATION IMPROVE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM RECENT DATA

Trade liberalization and its effect on unemployment have, over the years, attracted greater research attention from many researchers, given attendant negative effects it has growth of an economy. The study investigated trade liberalization's impact Nigeria's 1981 to 2022. divided into exports imports trade. employs Ordinary Lease Square. conducted for descriptive statistics tested unit root where most variables like export trade, import real gross domestic product, unemployment, exchange rate are stationary at first difference I(1), while inflation foreign direct investment were level I(0). uses co-integration test confirm long-run relationship between (export trade) result shows that there exists a relationship. reveals (both significant with in Nigeria; means increase both will reduce country. concluded recommended government should establish policy enhances employment opportunities would contribute significantly reducing Nigeria.
 Keywords: Liberalization, Export, Import, Unemployment, OLS, JEL Classifications: E24, F02, F16, F41, F32