<p>Vocational Skills Development and Youths’ Unemployment Reduction in Cross River State, Nigeria</p>

This study investigated the influence of vocational skill development on youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State. To achieve the purpose this study, seven research questions and seven null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Relevant literature was reviewed according to the variables of the study. The research design adopted for this study was the Ex-post facto research design. The multi stage sampling technique involving stratified, purposive and accidental sampling techniques was adopted to draw respondents for the study. The study population will consist of 14,139 males and female engaged in engaged in vocational skill acquisition programme from 18 years and above in the selected Local Government Areas of Cross River State Cross River State. The sample drawn for the study will comprise 698 respondents which will constitute five percent (5%) of the research population cutting across the different vocational programmes in the study. Specifically, the individual vocational skill sample includes; Trade/business 111, hairdressing 168, plumbing 104, shoe making 70, baking 99 and automobile 146. Across the local governments: Akamkpa has 134 respondents across all the vocational skills understudy, Biase 98, Obubra 102, Obudu 118, Ogoja 135 and Yakurr 111. These samples are all adult male and female apprentice and workshop owners in the various vocations selected for this study The instrument to be used for data collection in this study will be 48 items questionnaires titled "Vocational Skills Development and Youths Unemployment Reduction Questionnaire" (VSDYURQ). To test the hypotheses formulated to guide the study, simple linear regression was used. The results obtained from analysis of data and testing of hypotheses in the study revealed that There is a significant influence of hairdressing skill development on youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State. Plumbing skill development significantly influence youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State. There is a significant influence of shoe making skill development on youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State. There is a significant influence of baking skill development on youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State. Automobile repair skill development significantly influence youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State and there is a significant joint influence of trade/business skill development, hair dressing skill development, plumbing skill development, shoemaking skill development baking skill development and automobile repair skill development on youths' unemployment reduction in Cross River State. Based on these findings it was recommended among others Policymakers and entrepreneurs should lay more emphasis on training technical skills development and acquisition on hair dressing skill development to improve the performance of hair dressing businesses Also, the youths especially the girl child that is unable to gain admission into schools are advised to take up