Which of the following Age group belongs to active Labour force?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which age group makes up the active labour force, meaning people who are able and legally allowed to work.

Step 2: Explain the concept The labour force (economically active population) is made up of people who are:

• Old enough to work legally,
• Young enough to still be physically able to work,
• Willing and able to work (employed or actively seeking work).

In Nigerian economics textbooks and JAMB, the working-age population is generally taken as 18 - 64 years. (The National Bureau of Statistics often uses 15 - 64 for statistical purposes, but 18 - 64 is the standard in JAMB-type questions.)

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. 15 - 25yrs: This is too narrow. It leaves out most of the working population, and many in this group are still in school.
• B. 0 - 17yrs: These are children and teenagers. They are the dependent population, and child labour is prohibited.
• C. 65yrs and above: These are the aged, who are mostly retired and dependent.
• D. 18 - 64yrs: This is the working-age group, and it is the active labour force.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. 18 - 64yrs.

Tip: Remember that the population has three parts: young dependents (0-17), active workers (18-64), and aged dependents (65+). The middle group supports the other two. The dependency ratio is built on this idea.