As Nigeria’s corporate landscape evolves, employee count offers insight into a company’s operational footprint, market reach, and economic impact. Companies with large workforces typically support extensive distribution networks, customer-facing operations, manufacturing facilities, construction projects, and nationwide service delivery systems.
Workforce figures include a combination of permanent, temporary, full-time, and contract employees as disclosed by each company. For multinational and group entities, employee counts typically reflect consolidated staff across all subsidiaries and countries of operation.
An analysis of the 2025 workforce disclosures of major listed companies shows that banks, industrial firms, telecommunications operators, and construction companies remain among Nigeria’s largest employers, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of their operations.
Top 10 listed companies with the largest number of employees as of 2025
Fidelity Bank Plc – 3,466 employees
Fidelity Bank rounds out the top ten with a workforce of 3,466 employees, up from 3,182 employees in 2024. The bank added 284 employees within a year, which has helped improve customer service delivery, support business development initiatives, and strengthen operational efficiency. The increase in staff strength aligns with the bank’s continued growth strategy and expanding customer base.
Sterling Bank Plc – 3,723 employees
Sterling Bank maintained a sizeable workforce of 3,723 despite a modest reduction of 103 in employee numbers from 3,826 employees in 2024. The bank’s workforce remains central to delivering retail banking services and supporting its technology transformation agenda.
Airtel Africa Plc – 4,263 employees
Airtel Africa Group remains one of the largest telecommunications employers among listed firms. The telco giant maintained a workforce of 4,263 employees, up from 4,132 employees, as it continued expanding mobile, data, and mobile money services across its markets. Its workforce supports network operations, sales, customer experience, and technology deployment across multiple markets.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) – 6,122 employees
GTCO maintained steady workforce growth while continuing its transformation into a diversified financial services group. The company recorded modest growth from 5,984 employees in 2024 to 6,122 employees in 2025. GTCO’s workforce supports its multi-business strategy across banking and non-banking subsidiaries, demonstrating a more technology-driven operating model, balancing efficiency with growth.
Zenith Bank Plc – 8,773 employees
Zenith Bank recorded one of the most significant increases among the top employers, adding more than 1,000 employees, from 7,704 in 2024 to 8,773 employees in the review period. This supports growing transaction volumes and the bank’s expanding digital and retail banking ecosystem. Notably, female employees (4,900) outnumber male employees (3,873) within the organization. Despite digital efficiency, Zenith’s expanded workforce highlights continued investment in human capital to support premium banking services.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc – 8,859 employees
Julius Berger remains one of Nigeria’s largest private-sector employers with 8,859 employees, despite a reduction in workforce size. The company’s workforce was reduced by 560 employees from 9,419 employees in 2024. Construction remains one of the most labor-intensive sectors, making workforce size a key determinant of project execution capacity. As Nigeria’s leading engineering and construction company, the firm’s declining workforce may signal project completion cycles or efficiency gains, as construction firms often adjust staffing based on active contracts.
Access Holdings Plc – 9,960 employees
Access Holdings crossed the 9,000-employee mark following another year of expansion across banking and financial services, having increased its workforce sharply from 8,939 in 2024. The group continues to strengthen its position as one of Africa’s most geographically diversified banking institutions. Its growing staff strength mirrors branch expansion, digital transformation, customer service, regional operations, and integration efforts, especially after multiple mergers and acquisitions.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) – 10,821 employees
UBA recorded one of the strongest workforce expansions among major employers, increasing staff strength by 16% year-on-year to 10,821, a significant jump from 9,323 employees in 2024. The bank disclosed a workforce composition of 5,710 male employees and 5,111 female employees, highlighting one of the most balanced gender distributions among major employers.
