Ethnicity and Occupational Shift: A Case Study of Itinerant Tailors in Selected Areas of the South-South Region in Nigeria

Abstract

Occupation refers to a productive activity or task which one occupies oneself with, and is regularly paid for. Occupation for most people is a means to meet ones basic needs of life. This research is set out to understand the relationship between Ethnicity and career choices, and occupational shift amongst itinerant tailors is South-South region of Nigeria. 300 persons were purposively selected from Bayelsa, Rivers State and Delta State respectively using the snowball sampling technique. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential data analysis technique. The findings of this study revealed that people choose their occupations based on the socio-economic conditions and when their status stabilizes, there is the tendency to move to a better satisfactory job.

Keywords: Ethnicity, Occupation, Occupational Shift