Cost for writing this Master Thesis

The impact of COVID-19 is far reaching, from policy to business, from tech to finance, from labour market to production; covering all facets of life, business, and governance. Managers of business organizations struggled to find ways of surviving. This research looks at the impact of the pandemic on the Nigeria and United States labour market. This is with a view to finding ways for immediate and the long-term implications of the developing crisis especially for both countries. From the consequences of global lockdowns and the impact on supply chains to the future of travel and cross-border deal making, this work explores the next steps in tackling the most critical issue of our time.

COVID-19 has accelerated the transition to the future of work. It has brought some re-orientation in the whole area of urbanisation and economy, and brought some disruptions potentially shifting some of these patterns.

This work observes that the impact of this pandemic varies from one country to the other. The impact it has on the Nigerian market is different from the effects it has on the United States as the world’s largest and developed economy. Governments at all levels will need to accelerate and adapt their responses accordingly. There were similarities but there were also obvious differences.

This research reveals that the increased transmission in Nigeria and the United States, resulted in layoffs and furloughs, negatively impacting the productivity of the business organizations. Holidays and furlough affected productivity. These had negative impact on the revenue generation of organization. On a positive side, this pandemic led to many innovations including the vaccines and the manufacture of personal protective equipment and medical devices used.

Prior to COVID-19, local labour markets were undergoing major transitions – automation and technological change, globalisation, the green transition, and demographic change – that were reshaping the geography of jobs, local skills in demand, and the size and composition of local labour forces. Pre-COVID, cities were typically well positioned to benefit from many of these changes, while the risk of other places getting left behind was deepening.

COVID-19 is a tsunami on top of broader economic, social and demographic shifts already reshaping local labour markets. Digitalisation and automation; globalisation; climate change and the green transition; and demographic changes (population ageing, migration, urbanisation) are changing the nature and location of jobs, as well as the composition and skills of the workforce. In most cases, COVID-19 reinforces these trends, accelerating the need for a rapid policy response especially in the areas of business and management.

Our research is divided into chapters, starting from an exposé of the structures, background and academic construct of the methodology; going through explication of terms, literature review, research methodology, discussion and analysis of data, and some recommendations for navigating out of the adverse impact of this pandemic. This work is not dealing with illusion or speculating the shadow of a problem in order to arrive at a given syllogism. But we are handling in a scientific way a research of current problem caused by public health pandemic and its impact on business, in particular the market and labour force. The whole content of this work will sometimes borrow economic journalistic report of the situation, having at a certain time business educational character. The following may serve as a summary of the whole research objective motif.

From Lagos to New York, from California to Onitsha Nigeria, from Deli India to Frankfort Europe, the instantaneous recession triggered by the covid-19 pandemic-imposed mayhem on large and small businesses, because human ways of lives are globally threatened. We are constantly witnessing death of retail and wholesale businesses and collapse of global economy. There is crisis in the business world as a result of this lethal virus. The core purpose of doing business, the market industry and labour force is now directly impacted. To give a specific example of how this pandemic is eating into the fabric of market economy, we are limiting this research to two nation’s market economy; USA as advanced economy and Nigeria as a growing economy.

Expectations are high and there is urgent need for business management administrators and leaders whose profession is to intervene with survival solutions in this era of crisis in business. The research question is very vital, given our affirmation that the global economy is at the edge of collapse at this ongoing virus pandemic, do we assume that everything about marketing is going to change? This is the time to use or formulate business module to face the task of the long-term danger of this pandemic to both business entrepreneur and customers.

This work hopes to contribute to the ongoing research on the impact of covid-19 on global economy. Its design is to be educative and patriotic contribution to Nigeria as a so called third world with developing or growing economy. Our comparison of how United States of America is surviving in their trade and labour force, amidst these economic struggles, will be a prop up to many new business managements and entrepreneur in Nigeria especially as she has been impacted by poverty exacerbated by this dreadful and devastating Covid-19 pandemic. The USA has also been economically affected as shown in figure 1. The US has seen a sharp economic downturn as a result of the pandemic when it recorded a -4.8% in the first quarter of 2020.

The concerns of business management leadership, analysis towards the survival of market economy and labour force in this era of pandemic, form the background of this work. The researcher investigates two countries of similar market capital economy namely North America and Africa or USA and Nigeria. Since its independence in 1960, though a former British colony, Nigeria embraced the system of government of American democracy and by implication adopted USA trade, market and labour force economy. The current population of the United States of America is 332,643,210 as of May, 2021, based on ‘Worldmeter’ elaboration of the United Nations data.[footnoteRef:6] Similarly, “the current population of Nigeria is 210,060,020, based on projections of the latest United Nations data”.[footnoteRef:7] The large numbers in the population of these two nations in economic business views, proposes an active market and labour force economy. [6: United States Population (2021) - Worldometer (worldometers.info)] [7: worldpopulationreview.com/countries/Nigeria-population]

The background of this work reflects the totality of labour market and labour force. Within the pandemic, the liberal business and its labour force has been virulently attacked. Both Nigeria and the USA suffer a recession which has affected the labour market. The impact of this attack is the closure of many industries and companies, even retail and wholesale stores, because of the shortages in manpower, many of them died within the high peak of covid-19. Labour for clarity is human efforts and combination of mental, physical and social commitment to an industrial or theoretical practical effort for productivity output of goods and services in a given economy. This means an involvement of manpower-knowhow and managerial services, which put human efforts to an outcome of finished product. Labour is the amount of physical, mental, and social effort used to produce goods and services in an economy. The active labour economy is where the curve for employee is higher and the data of earning is proportional to the amount of the input. A living wage is measured by skills and energy of time as input in working time. Unfortunately, in third world like Nigeria,[footnoteRef:8] labour skills and ability are not commensurate to the low earnings which is considered in comparison to USA labour market’s wages as minimum. [8: Adejugbe, A. 1987. The Structure of Nigerian Economy (eds. F.A Olaloku, and Fajana, F.A.Lagos; Macmillan Publishers the University of Lagos ]

Figure 2

This work serves as advisory to what a business consultor should do in a given situation of the emergency that changed the normal way of doing business. Many theories have been the basic foundation of economics. In a given history of many of economic tragedies, economist of that era proposed some way out of survival. This is our own time and challenges, especially, growing a complementarity of economic theories that help the USA to survive the pandemic can be a support to Nigerian largest African economy. The same is the natural way Nigerian economic systems are handled despite its inflation, can help economist in the USA and other developed world’s economist to have conscious knowledge of how to deal with the surviving economy of the underdeveloped world.[footnoteRef:9] This work is a compendium of new proposals through research questions and answers, new ideas are formed on the impact of the pandemic on economy and its survival. [9: Addison, T. Hansen, H. & Tarp, F. 2004. Debt Relief for Poor Countries. New York: Palgrave Macmillan]

Even though the global finance level has not been virtually shown as being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the slowdown of the global economy especially in the USA and Nigeria in the area of labour market witnessed consequences of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). At the core of endangered public health, many people became sick and consequently died. The government of both Nigeria and USA imposed lockdowns as measure to reduce the spread of covid-19. Consequentially, many workers stop going to work, which leads to production reduction; workers ability to work weakens and demand for labour became low. In the USA as high technological economy, many services immediately developed by internet and WIFI resources, the idea of working from home became a new normal. However, manual labour and industrial work or transportation chains of supply were impacted. There are to this day many work stoppages in that area.

In Nigeria, as a country of backward technological know-how, our research found out that government lockdown had no alternative for most civil servants, there are lack of advance WIFI internet and electricity to facilitate working from home. Household income reduced because firms closed through several and long-lasting lockdown, Nigeria employers and public sectors could not pay unemployment benefits. The only struggling labour force in Nigeria is Agriculture, though with few working manual labour farmers. Our research included self-employed labour market with minimal income, because as demand became high, the supply chain was low restricted by impact of the virus. Informal businesses were in operation in Nigeria; however, the fear of the pandemic reduced the workers interest to work, therefore, unemployment spiked to higher rate. Unlike in the USA where during the lockdown due to Covid-19, the government stimulated unemployment with some stimulus and unemployment benefits, Nigeria recorded zero. This kept Nigerian economy in austerity, there are scarcity of goods and food which impacted household income.

USA as a high-income economy whereby workers change jobs and work two jobs to accumulate wealth, witnessed a data of job shortages; manual labour sectors were taking over by digital and mailing technics. Data shows a high rate of purchases by online within this period of pandemic than before, Amazon company for instance as much as they recorded high rate of online sales, were also doomed by less percentage of workers interest to come to work as impacted by the virus. Mailing supply were delayed by weeks and consumers were frustrated.

Though our research cannot get all the Nigerian responses to the Covid-19 impact on the labour market, one thing is sure that constant lockdowns’ restrictions of mobility and already existing low economic situation in Nigeria affected labour market in the area of productivity, supply; similarly, our researched were advantaged by USA labour Bureau department data on unemployment and other impact of the pandemic on Labour force. Such unannounced pandemic did not prepare the labour markets in the area of chain supply to build a strong resilience which could have handled volatile pandemic times fairly. Consumers demand changed in the USA, people were afraid of the doom of tomorrow, appropriation of inexpensive and products that have shelf life or long one became in high demand, unfortunately, business industries and firms that handle such products could not meet the consumers demand with a unique supply chain network. This work stoppage or lack of initial logistic impacted production.

· How did covid-19 impact the USA and Nigeria labour market and economy?

· What particular areas of the USA and Nigerian Labour market and economy are mostly affected by Covid-19.

· H1. The effect of Covis-19 has led to rising unemployment in the USA and Nigeria

· H2. Consequently, labour market and economy of the both countries have been adversely affected

· H3. The impact of Covid-19 on Nigerian labour market is related to the stringency and compliance with government containment policies.

· H4. Social media platforms such as Phones, Facebook, Zoom etc. play critical role on emergencies such as Covid-19 pandemic.

A scientific demand for such a research includes quantitative and qualitative research methods. This researched shall use quantitative method. This theory hopes to demonstrate that when there is a pandemic, its impacts can be devastating and that this affects the economy. Such quantitative method of this research creates some hypothesis in the questionnaire/interview. This work will also use qualitative method of research to understand some concepts, thought and the experience of people in written articles and lived experienced of people within this era of COVID-19.

This research hopes to use a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. Sometimes the urgency of the research topic demands that one gives data approach of experimental questions, using some hypothesis, seeking sometimes correlation between two variables in the questions. The use of these two research methods helps in discursive, quantifying and thematic analysis; being current to the issues of present-day impact and the future suggestive solution to already affected market of USA and Nigeria.

Business management is an art of enterprice. It is activities of human effort to make profit, through buying and selling or through production and services. Business grows according the value of human needs. As business expands it creates for itself needed branches of managements. An individual who owns a business becomes sole proprietor, sole proprietor gains all benefit and all profit and loss. Sole proprietor in business provides for manufacturing and services, manges labour and sales.

Such business can expand to partinership whereby two or more people can own a business These patners share the profit and have unlimited liability acquired in the business. This type of business takes care of the retail and wholesale , manufacturing and inventory accounting. While sole proprietor has an unlimited liability, partinership businesses operate on limited liability. Other businesses with limited liability include, Coperations and companies; by coperation, businesses are protected in the time of business failures.

It will now become a challenge in this era of Covid pandemic for Coperatives and companies to run businesses and protect the labour market benefits. Liability and unlimitated businesses, especially coperatives business management must protect the small share holders, employee benefits and working conditions must be a concern within the pandemic era.

In as much as business management is concern, the meaning of production and its usefulness are the same in both Nigerian and United State business. Production is the core art of doing business which is practically the manufacturing of goods and provision of services. In Nigerian business concept, where 80% of manufacturing are virtually near to nature of turning raw materials into industrial product, the notion of production in Nigeria rigmarole mostly on raw material and farmers’ products to industrial processes towards further consumer’s goods. While such notion is not lacking in industrial economy like USA, production as transformation of natural resources is concretely elevated as input and output of capital and human resources. Many services come out of the input and output production which means a lot of managing and operations.

Production and services involve human labour which is generally called in business labour force or labour market. Labour force as name is exemplified in Nigerian business economy and most of developing industrial Countries; majority of labour and services are dependent on manual human skills, which slow production output, because many efforts are fixed in input while the outcome are very less to suit the consumers value needs. An example is seen in Agriculture in Nigeria, it is still crude to report through our investigation that most of Nigerian Agricultural products are being produced through manual labour, since there is less mechanized[footnoteRef:10] way of productivity. [10: Oseghale, B.O., Abiola-Falemu, J.O. and Oseghale, G.E., 2015. An Evaluation of Skilled Labour shortage in selected construction firms in Edo state, Nigeria. American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER), 4(1), pp.1]

American industrial world though has been criticized for the use of technology and artificial intelligence to replace human labour; this work has seen the tremendous growth in production output because of use of industrial machine. The bane of mechanizing labour is that it dumb people down and technology removes human intuition of which many job are lost. The American production labour force, must be skilled to manage manual labour in this rampart replacement of technology and use of artificial intelligent. Services that have been replaced by computerization should provide cheaper training of human skill so as to involve many human ingenuity for the survival of labour market.[footnoteRef:11] Despite of the good and the odd of American labour, labour force, is supported by the government and have a good labour corporation and organization. [11: Richard works, The impact of technology on labor markets, in: https://www.bls.gov/opub/home.htm]

Technology is not all negative. On the contrary, the pandemic has made advanced economies like the US to technologically change the ways companies manufacture and deliver products. For instance, 3D printing enables small quantities of customised goods to be produced at relatively low costs near to or even by consumers on just-in-time printing machines, and is being applied by industries such as defence, aerospace, automotive, medical and metals manufacturing. Some advocates call 3D printing a new industrial revolution and compare it to the personal computer or internet in terms of disruption in the production process. Similarly, the capability of drone technology has improved, its price has plummeted, and its availability has greatly increased over the past decade, with many industries beginning to consider the benefits of drone technology for their businesses. Drone applications in industries such as agriculture, construction and infrastructure, energy, logistics, and mining take advantage of their ability to fly quickly and safely at high altitudes. Small economies like Nigeria are not so technologically endowed.

Chain of supply is a major life wire that sustains and encourages production. It is a link that vivifies the companies or production industries, in the sense of supplying input, which means a process by which raw materials are supplied to the production companies to keep production process afloat; chain of supply output, which is most popularly talked about in business economy, involves distribution of products and services.

The workers who changed materials, who provides services to the end products are included in the supply chain, warehouses where retail and wholesale, distributors of goods belong to the compound of chain of supply; transportation companies by air, by Sea and by Land are major supply chains. Routinely, production is linked with supply network. Obviously, the point is being made on the interrelatedness of labour force in the comprehensive production economy and services.

Global supply-chains have always been vulnerable to shocks that occur in the major exporting countries. Some of these shocks include trade wars, pandemics such as COVID-19, domestic political instability, etc. This vulnerability is especially because of factors that could impede the seamless flow of goods and services from these exporting countries to their major import trading partners. COVID-19 has disrupted global activities across all economic sectors and industries. The disruptions are largely due to the lockdown measures adopted and implemented by countries globally as a health strategy to mitigate the impact of the pandemic’s spread on the human population. Production halts, movement restrictions of people and goods, border closures, logistical constraints, as well as the slowdown of trade and business activities are fall-outs of the COVID-19 lockdown measures. The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) office in China on 31 December, 2019. As of August 17, 2020, there were over 22.1 million reported cases. Its emergence in China, which is one of the major manufacturing and distribution hubs globally, affected the supply of finished and semi-finished products to countries around the world that depend on China for trade.

Included in the chain of supply is the supply due to online marketing. The post office played a vital role during the USA pandemic lock down whereby many consumers depended on the post office and digital market. An interview with the general manager on Walmart Hopkinsville Kentucky reveals that during the lock down, the store sold most of its goods online than ever before, Ms. Shane a long time Walmart store manager, responded to my phone interview wanting to know how USA major stores survive sales and supplies within the era of pandemic lock down; she opined that “digital marketing also implied online supply, while Walmart store attached itself with mailing and transportation companies like UPS, it also delivered peoples’ goods to their homes by Walmart mailing system, it was tremendous initiative that helped all the regulation from centre for disease control and prevention (CDC)”.[footnoteRef:12] [12: Alicia Shane, Hopkinsville Kentucky (2021), Personal Telephone interview]

According to the WTO, nearly all regions will experience double-digit decline in trade volumes in 2020, with the most dips in exports coming from North America and Asia. The electronics and automotive segments will be the hardest hit due to the complexity of their value and supply-chains. COVID-19 has also exposed the vulnerability of the world’s food supply-chains. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the pandemic could plunge about 265 million people (up from 135 million people) into acute hunger by the end of 2020.

Manufacturers have found it increasingly difficult to distribute their products. There has been inventory build-up leading to the high cost of storage. Producers of perishable goods have experienced wastages due to this pandemic. Due to restrictions, the cost of distribution has risen exponentially, affecting the profitability of manufacturers.

Many and varied methods are used in the analysis of various data sets. The methodology chapter is crucial for any research as it laying the procedures to be used in the collection of data, which is crucial in offering inference to a particular hypothesis. This chapter describes the steps used in this research process. This process involves developing surveys, audiences, and survey tools used to analyse the data. The COVID-19 pandemic affects every aspect of life around the world. The US economy and labour markets have been hit hard. Government measures to contain the pandemic have severely distorted the market structure and the laws of supply and demand have not been applied. COVID-19 caused extreme turmoil in the public and labour markets as travel restrictions and blockade containment of spreads led to financial difficulties, layoffs, high unemployment and a potential economic collapse, perhaps with a recession. It was. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many changes in the economy and labour markets with various market trends, including the use of technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence (AI), resulting in unemployment, rising unemployment, changing incomes and funding. Changes in desires and preferences that affect consumption have brought about changes in livelihoods. Therefore, it has a great impact on supply and demand.

In this chapter, I hope to document my research design, data-gathering methods, processing and analysis methods, and ethical considerations used in the study that aims to examine if the issues raised have any resonance in my case study. These strategies are informed and justified by the research literature and the study context. The chapter begins with a description of the study context, moves on to the research design, description of data collection instruments, data quality issues, analysis methods and ends with ethical and environmental considerations put in place to undertake this study. Since data collection uses a qualitative and quantitative approach, we will use a mixed approach for this study.

In the course of this research, a population was targeted. Nigerian and US business setting in the time of pandemic are the focus. The investigation is to establish the effect of this pandemic of both markets, today and for the future. Zikmund defines target population as the specific group of people that are relevant to a particular case.[footnoteRef:13] In this work, the focus is on the movement of goods and services and the effects of the disruptions caused by COVID-19 on those markets. This research is a comparative study. The researcher is aware of the Nigerian business setting as the largest African economy including its areas of strength and weakness pre pandemic. America being the world’s biggest economy holds the attention of the rest of the business world. Forecasts from wall street are always being discussed. The desire to compare the two-business setting is to find out how each can help the other and how each can also learn from the other in a symbiotic relationship. So, the study is confined to the two countries aforementioned. [13: Zikmund, W.G., 2003. Business Research Methodology. 7th ed., United States: South Western.]

Research design is the development of research structure.[footnoteRef:14] Therefore, the research design is a conceptual framework in which research is conducted. This includes data collection, measurement and analysis. [14: Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons.]

This study used a case study approach in the sense that it described, explored, explained and investigated a specific circumstance; in this case, the Nigerian and United States of America is the subject of focus. A case study is expected to catch the complexity of a single case. A single leaf, even a single toothpick, has unique complexities.[footnoteRef:15] I chose the case study approach because it offered me a focused and in-depth study into the specific effects that the pandemic has on the business communities researched upon, drawing on some insights into business management’s views and challenges on the impact of COVID-19 global pandemic. It helped me to gain a rich and detailed understanding of this research interest. Also, as Thomas remarked, a contextual understanding of data and the emergent results are essential and helpful.[footnoteRef:16] My fear and concerns are that while the case study approach offers the benefit of providing a rich, holistic illumination of a specific circumstance, it is difficult to replicate, and so findings cannot necessarily be generalized to the wider population.[footnoteRef:17] The case study method is time-consuming and often influenced by the researcher’s bias. Although widely used in education research, it is a laborious approach to understanding. It can be so varied that even a large number of cases can become a misleading sample.[footnoteRef:18] In this study, I used a mixed methods approach to inquiry that combines both quantitative and qualitative forms of data collection, presentation and analysis.[footnoteRef:19] It consists of a questionnaire or a focus group interview to gather data which are used to respond to the aforementioned research questions. The questionnaire/interview was used to gather quantitative data. The qualitative data is used to enhance the interpretation of quantitative relationships. Another advantage of this form of interview is that it helps the researcher to recognize the potential significance of context.[footnoteRef:20] Mixed methods have a number of advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, they draw on the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of different approaches, and in so doing, improve the overall quality of the study but the price of this is its resource-intensity.[footnoteRef:21] To create a stark division between qualitative and quantitative research sometimes engenders a cart-before-the-horse mentality. They are not in opposition to one another. Rather, they complement each other.[footnoteRef:22] While carrying out this interview, I used a design to describe the point of view of the interviewees. The rationale for this descriptive approach is that according to Akubueze, it is concerned with finding out, describing, and interpreting what is, the condition that exists, and the essential things that this study covers.[footnoteRef:23] Utilizing quantitative methods allowed me to quantify factors responsible for the noticeable effects on the markets and then being able to draw inference from available data. This method captures and voices the human experiences of business management.[footnoteRef:24] [15: Thomas, G. (2011) 'A Typology for the Case Study in Social Science Following a Review of Definition, Discourse, and Structure', Qualitative Inquiry, 17(6), pp. 511-521] [16: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [17: Gerring, J. (2004) 'What Is a Case Study and What Is It Good for?', American Political Science Review, 98(02), pp. 341-354.] [18: Ibid. Gerring, J. (2004)] [19: Tashakkori, A. and Teddlie, C. (2003) Handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research. Sage.] [20: Ritchie, J. and J. Lewis (2003). Qualitative research practice : a guide for social science students and researchers . London: SAGE] [21: Johnson, R.B. and Onwuegbuzie, A.J. (2004) 'Mixed Methods Research: A Research Paradigm Whose Time Has Come', Educational Researcher, 33(7), pp. 14-26.] [22: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [23: Akubueze, T.C. (2010) Research Methods and Statistics in Education and the Social Sciences. Nigeria: Spiritan Publications.] [24: Ibid. Johnson, R.B. and Onwuegbuzie, A.J. (2004)]

The target population is a larger population of all subjects for whom samples are taken. Research groups include people, things, and events that researchers want to study.[footnoteRef:25] The target population is the population in which researchers want to summarize their findings. Before starting the study, the target population must be defined and agreed upon. A target group is a population or entire group in which a researcher is interested in research and analysis. Then a sampling frame is drawn from this target group. [25: Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons]

The target group is the total population of respondents who meet a set of criteria.[footnoteRef:26] In this study, the target group covered the population of the United States and Nigeria. Inclusion criteria are characteristics that we want the sample people to have. In this case, samples will be taken from the most affected states and the United States (California, Alaska, etc.). In Nigeria, various managers will be interviewed. [26: Coughlan, M., Cronin, P., & Ryan, F. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 1: quantitative research. British journal of nursing, 16(11), 658-663.]

In this research, the target population consists of the major sectors and regions that have been hit hard by the pandemic. It focuses on the areas and businesses that are bearing the full blunt of the devastation caused by COVID-19 pandemic. So, not all the sectors are evaluated. The managers of manufacturing companies in both Nigeria and the US whose business of companies have been adversely affected by the pandemic is carefully chosen for study. The transport and tourism industries are also considered.

Sampling involves the process of selecting a portion of the population that represents the entire population to obtain information about the phenomenon of interest. The sample is part of the population selected to participate in the survey. There are two sampling methods. One provides probability sampling, which guarantees the probability of selecting each respondent. The other shows a non-probability sample with an unknown probability of selection. This study is used as a convenient non-probability sampling method for selecting sectors and regions that serve as case studies. Convenience sampling consists of sampling using the most available or most convenient group of subjects. This method was chosen because it is easily accessible to respondents. It is simple, practical, economical, fast, and does not require complex sample structures that do not exist. The generalizability parameters of these samples are not important. Studies tend to be generalized to a wider population. The study simply presents itself. The sample size should be large enough to represent a universal population. The sample size chosen by the researcher must provide sufficient information about the research population and can be easily analysed.[footnoteRef:27] [27: Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons.]

The bigger the sample size, the better the exactness in assessing obscure boundaries. For instance, on the off chance that you need to know the level of a specific fish animal type contaminated with a microorganism, you can normally sample and look at 200 fish rather than 100 to get a more precise gauge of that rate. Some essential realities of numerical measurements, like the law of enormous numbers and as far as a possible hypothesis, clarify this wonder.

In certain circumstances, enormous sample sizes may bring about almost no improvement in precision. This might be because of information inclination, solid conditions, or the information fitting to a weighty followed circulation. The sample size can be dictated by the nature of the evaluations acquired. For instance, while assessing proportions, you can have 95% certainty stretches with a width of under 0.06 units. On the other hand, you can gauge the sample size depends on a theory test. For instance, looking at the help of a specific female political up-and-comer with that of a male up-and-comer, it might take 80% of the ability to discover a distinction in help levels of 0.04 units. Creswell in 2006 brings up that the data gathered dependent on the sample size ought to be adequate and simple to break down.[footnoteRef:28] For this situation, the monetary outline of the area's information will be assessed and centered around the Nigerian oil industry and the financial advancement of Alaska, California, and other parts the United States. A subjective methodology is utilized to talk with 20 administrators from different states in Nigeria and the United States. [28: Creswell, J.W. (2006). Research design. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.]

A probabilistic inspecting technique in which the beginning stage of a sample is arbitrarily chosen and afterwards cases are chosen at ordinary stretches. This is an examining interaction wherein every subgroup, called a layer, has an equivalent shot at being arbitrarily chosen. For this situation, general information for the recognized region is assessed. For this situation, the maker is arbitrarily chosen to give quality information. An audit of the information gives quantitative information used to dissect the marvel.

Validity is the accuracy and meaningfulness of inference, which are based on the researcher’s results. It is the degree to which results obtained in the analysis of data, actually represent the phenomenon under study.[footnoteRef:29] It is the degree to which the instrument measures what it is supposed to be measuring. Construct validity is the extent to which the results of a test correlate with the theoretical construct for which it is seeking to act as an assessment.[footnoteRef:30] [29: Mugenda, O.M. and Mugenda, A.G. (1999) Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Acts Press, Nairobi.] [30: Thomas, G. (2011) 'A Typology for the Case Study in Social Science Following a Review of Definition, Discourse, and Structure', Qualitative Inquiry, 17(6), pp. 511-521.]

The question on my mind was whether the results from the research questionnaire correlate with the theoretical constructs. Here, I tried to ensure that the questionnaire reflected ideas obtained from established theory.[footnoteRef:31] I also listened to the critical advice of my friends, colleagues, course mates and supervisor. Their observations and comments on the quality and validity of my questions were helpful. Reliability on the other hand refers to the extent to which a research instrument such as a test will give the same result on different occasions. I aimed to ensure that in the course of my research, the measuring instrument should be consistent.[footnoteRef:32] A test is reliable if it consistently yields the same results when repeated measurement of a property is taken of the same entities under the same conditions. Hence, a measure of reliability is the degree to which an instrument yields consistent results after repeated trials.[footnoteRef:33] [31: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [32: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [33: Akubueze, T.C. (2010) Research Methods and Statistics in Education and the Social Sciences. Nigeria: Spiritan Publications]

To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, a pilot study was undertaken. The value of the validity and reliability coefficient was calculated using Cronbach’s 1951 alpha coefficient method.[footnoteRef:34] This tested method is a coefficient of internal consistency, commonly used as a measure of a test for a sample of examinees.[footnoteRef:35] I chose to use this method because it is easy and simple enough to use. It also acts as an index of reliability. It assures internal consistency using the average correlation of items to gauge its reliability. This pilot test helped me to determine and improve on the validity and reliability of my research approach. In this study, I adopted the internal consistency technique by including several items dealing with a similar aspect but stated differently. [34: Santos, J. A. R. (1999). Cronbach’s Alpha: A Tool for Assessing the Reliability of Scales. Journal of Extension, 37, 1-5.] [35: Ibid. Santos, J. A. R. (1999).]

Data can be divided into two groups: secondary data and primary data. Survey tools are tools used to collect primary data, such as surveys, interview guides, observation checklists, and thematic group discussion guides. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, and raw data were used in this study. Surveys were a good option for data collection because they are more economical in terms of money, energy, and time. The use of structured questions is preferred because it saves time, money, and energy, and because it is in a usable format, it is easy to analyse. Unstructured questions were also used and were preferred because they encouraged respondents to answer questions in detail without being forced to refrain from sharing information. Creswell explains that surveys are a great way to collect data because they collect data that is difficult to observe.[footnoteRef:36] The survey also asks about a person's emotions, achievements, motives, experiences, and attitudes. Interviews are used as a research tool. System reviews are also used to assess the impact of the covid19 pandemic on sampled regions. [36: Creswell, J.W. (2006). Research design. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.]

Interviews are one of the best data collection techniques, and it is easy to collect large amounts of data. This allows the interviewee to provide sufficient information about the topic. In addition, the data collected is accurate because it includes the collection of data from managers who provide information directly. Choosing the Right Candidate Interview provides the interviewer with the opportunity to find the right interviewee for the relevant research topic. The right candidates will help you provide the accurate and sufficient data you need for your study. This has allowed many organizations to use this method to conduct surveys. Interview guides for key informants are used to collect data from key informants. The quantitative nature of these interviews improves the efficiency of gathering information from respondents who are familiar with the manufacturer's current activities. The main informants are the 10 managers of the manufacturing companies in the USA and 10 managers of the manufacturing companies in Nigeria.

.

The defining characteristic of the questionnaire is that it is a written form of questioning.[footnoteRef:37] These questions, although written, may be open or closed. The closed questions are those which are tightly structured. They demand a particular response and sometimes the answers are “yes” or “no”. On the other hand, the open-ended questions allow the opportunity for a more discursive response if required. In other words, they allow respondents to reply in whichever words they wish. Both forms of question can be used to collect facts, measure attitudes, or assess something such as personality.[footnoteRef:38] The use of a questionnaire/interview in research has some merits. They include: a large amount of information can be collected from a large number of people in a short period of time and in a relatively cost-effective way. Secondly, it can be carried out with limited effect on its validity and reliability. Thirdly, results obtained from the questionnaire can easily be quantified by either a researcher or through the use of a software package. This data can be used to compare and contrast other research or to measure change. Fourthly, it can be analysed more scientifically and objectively than any other form of research. Its results can also be used as a basis for new theories.[footnoteRef:39] Its demerits include: It is inadequate to understand or measure emotions, behaviours and feelings. Secondly, it tends to ask only limited amount of information without explanation. Thirdly, there is no way of measuring or telling if the respondent is being honest. Fourthly, people may read differently into each question and therefore their reply is based on their own interpretation of the question. Some level of subjectivity could be possible; this may not always be acknowledged. I chose to use the questionnaire/Interview approach as part of my research tool for data gathering. I developed interview questions, with support from studies such as Farber (1991); Ingersoll and Smith (2003); Smethem (2007) and Klassen and Anderson (2009). I used a Likert Scale which according to Thomas was thought up by the psychologist Rensis Likert primarily for measuring attitudes.[footnoteRef:40] Here respondents indicate their levels of agreement to statements provided by the researcher relating to that attitude, belief or characteristic. The respondent rather in a rating specific questions responds to each of them on a five-point scale. I deliberately removed the middle option so as to avoid my respondents over-choosing this or using it as an easy escape route or perhaps a means to avoid my questions. However, I am aware that having no opinion on a particular issue is totally valid. So, I used the four-point scale in drawing up the questionnaire for this research. Also, some might think that the provision of any specific responses provides an escape route for respondents. The questionnaire for this research is characterized by closed Likert scale questions which according to Bertram, is simple to construct, produces a highly reliable scale, easy to read and complete for participants but subject to central tendency bias, acquiescence bias, social desirability bias, lack of reproducibility and validity issues.[footnoteRef:41] This study utilized primary data obtained from this questionnaire. [37: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [38: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [39: Potter, K. (2004) The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Routledge, Taylor & Francis] [40: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2011)] [41: Bertram, D. (2007) 'Likert scales', Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Retrieved May, 18, p. 2012.]

The term 'pilot studies' alludes to smaller than usual forms of a full-scale study (likewise called 'achievability' contemplates), just as the particular pre-testing of a specific examination instrument, for example, a survey or meeting plan. Pilot considers are an essential component of a decent study plan. Directing a pilot study does not ensure accomplishment in the fundamental study, however, it improves the probability of progress. Pilot contemplates satisfy a scope of significant capacities and can give important bits of knowledge to different analysts. The effectiveness and reliability of data acquisition tools are determined using pilot tests. To eliminate lead issues, you should use the pilot interview method. In this survey, nine respondents will participate in a pre-test, which is 90% of the sample size. This is consistent with Hertzog's statement that studies should use 10% of the sample size of the sample.[footnoteRef:42] [42: Hertzog, M. A. (2008). Considerations in determining sample size for pilot studies. Research in nursing & health, 31(2), 180-191.]

Creswell attributed this validity to the extent that the data analysis results reflect research phenomena.[footnoteRef:43] This study focuses only on three types of validity: facial validity, criteria validity, and content validity. The accuracy of the facts is that the questions in the interview survey are unclear and can lead to misunderstandings and misunderstandings. Facial reliability can be enhanced by pre-testing. Content validity is also known as Boolean validation. Logical certainty is the level at which variable measurements explain all the factors of social construction. With the help of research experts, the reliability of research equipment is improved. The validity of the survey tool's face is improved by pilot tests and rewriting unclear and ambiguous questions. Criteria-related validity includes determining how well research instrument scores predict known results. This study uses correlations to determine if the criteria are relevant. This includes correlating the instrument's score with items that are known to be predicted. [43: Creswell, J.W. (2006). Research design. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.]

Research instrument consistency is assessed using Cronbach's alpha, which is commonly used in studies involving multiple-scale questions. Cronbach's alpha (α) ranges from 0 to 1 and measures reliability, indicating that the measured elements are positively correlated with each other. Jain & Angural recommends a cutoff of 0.7 or higher for structures that are considered reliable. Pilot studies are conducted to improve the reliability of the equipment.[footnoteRef:44] [44: Jain, S., & Angural, V. (2017). Use of Cronbach's alpha in dental research. Medico Research Chronicles, 4(03), 285-291.]

According to Thomas, purposive sampling is a non-representative subset of some larger population, and is constructed to serve a very specific need or purpose.[footnoteRef:45] The group I had in mind were the employees of companies in Nigeria and US, but I know it is not possible to specify the population - they would not all be known, and access would be difficult. So, I decided to zero in on targeted individuals The Managers). In other words, as Thomas argues, it involves simply the pursuit of the kind of person in whom the researcher is interested, and professes no representativeness. These kinds of samples are sometimes called non-probabilistic samples because they do not lend themselves to the kind of design on which inferential statistics using probability estimates are used.[footnoteRef:46] Furthermore, I preferred this approach because it gives my respondents and participants the opportunity to discuss issues in the areas where they are competent or knowledgeable.[footnoteRef:47] [45: Thomas, G. (2009) How to do your research project: a guide for students in education and applied social sciences. Sage] [46: Ibid. Thomas, G. (2009)] [47: Amin, M.E. (2005) Social Science Research: Conception, Methodology and Analysis. Makerere University Press, Kampala.]

Primary data collection from respondents is guaranteed using interviews and evaluation of existing secondary data. The researcher will strive to obtain research approval from NACOSTI. Participants will be provided with a consent form explaining the nature of the study and the requirements of the participants. Interviews will effectively be conducted as the investigation must comply with WHO's COVID-19 measures. This will be done after the appointment with the manager. The researcher will also conduct desk and library research to study scientific journals, articles, reports, the Internet, publications on research topics, and other useful relevant information. Closed surveys are used to obtain quantitative data, and open-ended surveys and key interviews with respondents are used to obtain qualitative data.

Thematic analysis is used to qualitatively analyse data and present the results in prose. Microsoft Excel will be used to analyse quantitative data. We analysed qualitative data using descriptive and logical statistics. To explain respondents' responses to scores for subordination, independence, and mitigation factors, we analyse demographic information obtained from respondents using descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics include frequency distribution, mean (measured variance), standard deviation (measured variance), and percentage. Analysis of the output data includes multiple regression analysis and the use of Spearman's correlation coefficient. A 90% confidence level applies in this study.

I analysed the data that I obtained using the descriptive approach. This approach was taken because it is modern, simple and easy. It involves transforming each item in the administered instruments into codes. Analysis from the questionnaire was done by categorizing responses into frequency counts and percentages. This was collected through the interview and also through tape recording as in the case of the focus group interview. The findings were analysed using the descriptive and analytic method.

I was aware that as the researcher, I have an undeniable position and that this can affect the nature of the observations and the interpretations that I give them. Since I am Nigerian and someone who admire the American business environment, I take an insider-outsider position in this study. The implications are such that while I aim to take an objective stance in the sample recruitment, data collection, interpretation and analysis, it may often be marked with biases at each stage due to my position within the catholic education community and my familiarity with it. According to Merriam et al., these biases come with advantages and disadvantages which cannot be helped but acknowledging that they are key to readers’ understanding the lens through which you view the research.[footnoteRef:48] [48: Merriam, S.B., Johnson-Bailey, J., Lee, M.-Y., Kee, Y., Ntseane, G. and Muhamad, M. (2001) 'Power and positionality: negotiating insider/outsider status within and across cultures', International Journal of Lifelong Education, 20(5), pp. 405-416.]

I made sure that they were free to offer opinion as they wished. Although, I made sure that participants privacy and confidentiality were guaranteed in this research, I left them the freedom to be as critical as they wished. This includes the freedom to comment on the politics of COVID-19. However, I gave them the assurance that any individual comment would not be reported or ascribed to that individual.

The independent variable for this study was the effect of COVID-19, and the main dependent variables were the labour market and economy. Dependent variables are evaluated for various aspects such as unemployment and the impact of social media on the financial solution of the COVID-19 problem. This variable will be essential, as it will make it possible for the researcher to explore the various aspects of the economy and the labour market.

I was tempted to choose a topic that I considered simple and easy to research especially one that other people had worked before. I thought about a subject whose primary data could be easily sourced with little or no effort from where I live and work. However, I had the choice of taking on a topic about which I am deeply concerned and, indeed, passionate and one that is more challenging, preparing me for future of our business world and indeed the future of humanity. I settled for the latter. I am aware that my research is and will remain a work/job in progress. The timing of my research and the data collection and analysis is critical to its overall success. As I am deeply convinced of the importance of the subject matter of my research, I have no doubt the outcome will benefit not only Nigeria and United States of America, but the whole world. I hope that through this research, I will be able to use my experience to bring greater consciousness to the inquiry process.

This chapter presents, analyses and discusses the data gathered from the field in the course of this study. The main objective of this work is to analyse and interpret findings on the research question; “Insight into Business Management’s Views and Challenges on the Impact of Covid-19 Global Pandemic (Its Consequences on American and Nigerian Labour Market)”

This includes an exploration of the participants’ perception of this unprecedented health crisis. As already mentioned in Chapter 3, using purposive sampling, the data was collected from managers of businesses located in parts of Nigeria and the United States during this time of pandemic. The data collection methods used is Interview:

· How did covid-19 influence the USA and Nigeria labour market and economy?

· What particular areas of the USA and Nigerian labour market and economy are mostly affected by Covid-19?

This chapter contains data analysis, presentation and results in interpretation as well as a discussion of the findings according to the study objectives and aims. The main objectives of the paper were to critically evaluate existing papers from the leading journals on the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market and economy. To develop a research scale that could be used to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market and economy. To use management theories to develop arguments or hypotheses that would enhance a strong labour market for future emergencies.

Setting: The global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) dramatically slowed economic activity as governments implemented lockdown measures, individuals reacted by reducing both their mobility and economic activity, and firms’ production processes were disrupted. These broader shifts in the economy affected both firms’ demand for labour and workers’ ability and willingness to work. In developed countries where data are readily available, labour market impacts varied considerably across countries, depending on initial economic and labour market conditions and variations in policy responses. Unfortunately, however, most of the countries with post-crisis data are high-income countries, and there is little systematic knowledge about the labour market impacts of the crisis in developing countries. Understanding how the pandemic affected labour markets in the developing world with Nigeria as a case study and that of a developed country such as the United States is crucial as governments and other actors continue to develop responses.

It is worthy of note again that both the respondents to the participants in the focus group acted freely and without any undue pressure from the researcher.

Participants were asked to provide information concerning their work experience, age, and gender. The reason for this is to ascertain whether these variables have any relevance or influence on the effects of the COVID-19 and the response to these effects. Although there was no direct mention of these variables, they were very helpful in determining vital issues like the age range of business managers in Nigeria and their counterparts in America.

The findings reveal that the number of Nigerian (citizen) respondents is higher than that of the US. This reveals that there is some bias by the researcher in the choice of managers and their participation in the data collection exercise. However, this was not deliberate as the choice and selection of respondents was free and without undue pressure from anybody. However, since the researcher is Nigerian, it follows naturally that she has access to more Nigerian managers than that of the US.

The size of the sample of this study was 20 respondents consisting of managers within the different states. All the managers responded effectively to the interview questions after effectively making appointments. Concerning the statement of Kothari, a response rate above fifty percent is adequate for statistical analysis as well as making inferences about the target population.[footnoteRef:53] Other secondary resources were evaluated to identify the impact of the pandemic on the mentioned states such as Alaska and California, all in the U.S, which were significantly affected by the pandemic. [53: Kothari, C.R. (2004) Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. 2nd Edition, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.]

Different data sets were collected from the participants of the study. In this case, each gender participated in the study, as there were ten males and ten females. Since age was not a factor in the management of the manufacturing companies, the variable was not considered in the selection of the managers. As far as qualitative data analysis was considered, the journals had to be peer-reviewed and up to date. This aimed at ensuring current and correct data was obtained from the resources.

As far as this variable was concerned, qualitative data were obtained from different journals. According to Falk, the unemployment rates in the United States is influenced by various factors, which include the level of education and sector during the pandemic.[footnoteRef:54] In Alaska and California, the levels of unemployment were 6.7 % and 8.3 % respectively. California was categorized as the country with high unemployment rates. As far as unemployment by sector is concerned, the hospitality sector experienced the highest unemployment rates. It was also noted that the unemployment rate was greatly influenced by the level of education whereby those with lower education levels were more likely to lose jobs and not likely to be employed. [54: Falk, G. (2020). Unemployment Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Congressional Research Service. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R46554.pdf ]

Based on the interviews with the different managers it was evident that most manufacturing companies had to lay off some workers due to the COVID-19 measures. As far as the response to efforts to maintain their labour force was concerned, the following company representatives were interviewed.

For certain specialists, the viability of COVID-19 is exceptionally subject to one prerequisite. Would I be able to work distantly or would I be able to attach it to my workplace? Segregation, isolation, and conscious disengagement have constrained a great many individuals throughout the planet to work distantly, speeding up endeavours in the workplace that were attempting to fabricate traction before the episode of COVID-19. did. Today, amidst a pandemic, the constraints and advantages of telecommuting are clearer. Numerous individuals are getting back to function as the economy recuperates, however, most can never telecommute chiefs survey and dive into a drawn-out half breed working from home model for explicit faculty. It shows that it is. The contamination has spread through friendly and imaginative obstructions that recently debilitate working from home, and significant changes have started, essentially where certain individuals work. To urge representatives to assume liability, the association has fostered a system to keep the association from excusing workers.

Notwithstanding, most representatives do not have many freedoms to work distantly. A portion of their positions require collaboration with others or the utilization of certain gear. Different things should be acted in the field, for example, playing out a CT check. A few, similar to transportation, occur in the city. A critical extent of these positions is low-paying and are in high danger because of a wide scope of plans like computerization and digitization. Thus, telecommuting represents a danger of making up for the social imbalance.

In Nigeria, there a good number of vulnerable workers that this crisis has exposed. For instance, the average income in this growing economy went further down by 60% and further by 80%. This thrusts a large section of the work force into poverty and leading them into seeking alternative ways of surviving. One thing that is common in both Nigeria and the United States is that this pandemic has revealed the underlying vulnerability of working people in current arrangements. The economy appears to diverge without establishing the institutions that come along with that.

Hourly labourers have been put on a decreased time or low maintenance timetable, and additional time hours can be diminished or dispensed with completely.[footnoteRef:64] If the labour force is unionized, bosses ought to affirm whether they are allowed to roll out these improvements singularly under the aggregate dealing arrangement. [64: Ibid. Covington and Burling, (2020).]

4.5.6 Deglobalization

Unpaid leave is a choice accessible to bosses.[footnoteRef:69] In contrast to cutbacks, vacations include putting representatives on a time of unmistakable or inconclusive neglected leave with the assumption that they will eventually get back to work. While a vacation is neglected, managers ought to talk with counsel before ending worker benefits. Businesses ought to speak with workers consistently if the leave will keep going for an inconclusive timeframe. Businesses permit or deny representatives from utilizing accumulated paid leave during a vacation period except if in any case denied by state or neighbourhood law. State laws contrast on whether bosses can expect representatives to utilize gathered paid leave during a vacation. A few states permit businesses to require the utilization of paid leave; however, others force limitations, like California. On the off chance that non-absolved representatives do not work, they should not be paid. Excluded workers in the U.S. should be paid an entire week's compensation on the off chance that they play out any work in seven days, so they should be furloughed in severe one-week augments that line up with the business' workweek. Businesses who decide to vacation huge number. [69: Ibid. Covington and Burling, (2020). ]

A specific supporter of the decrease in COVID-19 is the significance of telecommuting to keep individuals at work. Options in contrast to telecommuting were broad among labourers in February, contingent upon their degree of training, however, those with an advanced education had commonly a larger number of freedoms to pick than the individuals who didn't get a secondary school certificate. It was 62% versus 9. %. In any case, the joblessness rate for secondary school graduates in May was just about a few times higher than in February. As far as manufacturing companies are concerned, organizations have adopted different approaches to maintain their workforce. The strategies are presented in the table below.

This part of the examination depended on existing diaries recommending the most pandemic-influenced financial specialties. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has found that the US economy encountered a month-on-month monetary top in February 2020, denoting the finish of the longest US extension that started in June 2009.[footnoteRef:70] Since the last high in the last quarter of 2019, the United States has encountered a decrease in GDP for the second successive quarter. It's anything but a quarterly decrease in monetary benefit, down 9.1% in the second quarter of 2020. To record this pressing factor, quarterly GDP has never seen a drop of over 3% since it's anything but a record high. Protection started in 1947. Because of the developing construction of governments and the development of electronic business advancements, the improvement equipment subsector will be less influenced than the 2007-2009 monetary crisis, with crises being the business subsector. In the meantime, associations in the fields of apparatus, plastics and steelmaking were additionally influenced (Bauer et al., 2020). Likewise, a 107% increment in auto-creation in June 2020 worked with a re-visitation of the centre of present-day inventiveness. [70: Atkeson, A. (2020). What will be the economic impact of COVID-19 in the US? Rough estimates of disease scenarios (No. w26867). National Bureau of Economic Research. ]

The metropolitan local area with focal undertakings unfavourably influenced by the COVID-19 downturn has more genuine outcomes of congestion. As a rule, destroying the focal branch can mean the breakdown of others close by, as on account of the Rust Belt rally in the second 50% of the twentieth century. Hence, megacities that are centred around the harmed business can confront an adverse consequence that will spread all through the economy. Hispanics or Hispanics likewise will in general expansion in metropolitan regions where COVID-19 weak organizations are concentrated. The pandemic financial landscape then, at that point fuels existing variances and worsens the racial openings in the bounty of Hispanic or Latino families. That administration measures to relieve the impacts of COVID-19 didn't consider the monetary and geological truth of this downturn and were executed such that diminished the interests of some Hispanic or Latino families. This is particularly irritating when you consider the big picture. During the downturn related to COVID-19, joblessness among all assemblies of labourers expanded fundamentally. In any case, the experiences of certain gatherings of labourers, like ladies and ethnic minorities, during the flare-up of COVID-19 are altogether unique concerning how they confronted the Great Recession. Nigeria's economy has been disabled by outer factors too as the Covid pandemic brought about a close complete closure of monetary movement throughout the planet. The going with a steep drop in oil costs amid a drop in worldwide interest left Nigeria radically shorn of income given its reliance on the item as its greatest income source. For setting, the United States sliced its Nigerian raw petroleum imports oil by 11.67 million barrels in the initial five months of 2020, contrasted with what it purchased in a similar time of 2019. Truth be told, in the second quarter of 2020, nearby oil creation dropped to its most minimal since 2016 when Nigeria persevered through an entire year of negative development.

Despite its melancholy side, the pandemic offers a special chance for neighbourhood producers in Nigeria to adapt to the situation of lacking PPE supplies. The lack of PPE brought about by rising interest, alarm purchasing, accumulating and abuse has jeopardized numerous well-being labourers around the world. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 episode, the costs of defensive contraptions have flooded, inciting WHO to approach industry and governments to expand fabricating by 40% to satisfy rising worldwide need. Because of WHO displaying, an expected 89 million clinical covers are needed for the COVID-19 reaction every month. For assessment gloves, that figure goes up to 76 million, while worldwide interest for goggles remains at 1.6 million every month. At first, Nigeria got PPE from WHO and China. Yet, the current insights request proactive measures in boosting the creation of PPE locally. A beam of expectation came when the Nigerian military said it has effectively created a ventilator utilizing privately sourced parts and has likewise started large-scale manufacturing of PPE units. The state-run Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), which is answerable for creating safeguard hardware and regular citizen items, has been conceded endorsement by the Federal Government to deliver a huge number of top-notch non-porous PPE packs. Every unit comprises normalized outfits, face safeguards and veils to be sold at reasonable rates. He said the PPEs are at present being delivered in huge amounts for use by Kaduna State Government and other public partners. Moreover, DICON designers, advisors and clinical groups have effectively created a computerized mechanical ventilator known as DICOVENT. Typically, the manufacturing companies have significantly benefited from the production of PPE and ventilators in Nigeria

Based on the interviews, the managers had the following response to the impact of the pandemic on the labour market.

Based on the responses obtained from the various manager, there was some agreement that COVID-19 has significantly affected the labour market with 70% of the managers from the United States and Nigeria claiming the pandemic has had a severe impact. 30% perceived that the pandemic had a moderate impact. According to these managers, the pandemic also led to the emergence of newer ways of making money such as the production of PPE and other medical equipment needed in the fight against the ailment.

The manager had the following responses as far as the economy was concerned.

Typically, the pandemic has mostly been associated with adverse effects globally. The production rates of different companies were affected though newer industries merged to fill the emerging gaps that called for the production of different protective garments such as face masks and equipment used to test and prevent. According to the managers, the pandemic had an impact on the Nigerian and United States economies.

This section provides a summary of the results, a description of the results, conclusions or inference and recommendations for policy, practice, and future research. Both conclusions and recommendations were made following the goals and objectives of the study. This study aims at an assessment of the impact of the global Covid-19 epidemic on the US and Nigeria economies and labour markets. Most of the managers contacted and who responded to the interview are from manufacturing companies that were heavily impacted by the pandemic. Objective and research questions were answered by interviewing heads of various manufacturing organizations and evaluating existing types of literature on the impact of pandemics on various states in the United States and Nigeria.

Various datasets were collected from study participants. For example, the survey involved 20 managers; 10 from Nigeria and 10 from the United States. In this case, there were 10 men and 10 women, so representatives of each gender participated in this study. This variable was not taken into account in the management's choice, as age was not a factor in the management of the manufacturing company. As far as qualitative data analysis is concerned, journals should be reviewed and updated. This is intended to ensure that the correct current data is retrieved from the resource.

The unemployment rate in the United States is affected by a variety of factors, including education levels and sectors during a pandemic.[footnoteRef:79] The unemployment rates in Alaska and California were 6.7% and 8.3%, respectively. California is classified as a country with high unemployment rate. In terms of unemployment rate by sector, the hospitality sector showed the highest unemployment rate. It was also pointed out that unemployment is highly dependent on educational background, and those with a low educational background are more likely to lose their jobs and are less likely to be hired. Interviews with various managers revealed that most manufacturers had to dismiss some workers for COVID-19. Based on their response to workforce retention during a pandemic, 55% of manufacturers are less likely to retain the workforce. This is due to the declining demand for our products and the 19 measures we need to comply with. Only 45% of the manufacturing industry can maintain a workforce. [79: Falk, G. (2020). Unemployment Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Congressional Research Service. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R46554.pdf. ]

Scientists have agreed that working from home is a good approach to prevent layoffs. According to some experts, the feasibility of COVID-19 depends on only one prerequisite. Can I work remotely or can I connect to the workplace? Isolation, quarantine, and deliberate quarantine have forced so many people around the world to work remotely, accelerating attempts to create workplace cravings before the COVID-19 episode. In today's pandemic, the limitations and benefits of working from home are clear. Many people return to work as the economy recovers, but most of them can never remotely investigate their bosses and immerse themselves in the protracted mixed race from home models for explicit teachers. This shows that this is the case. The infection has recently spread through friendly and creative hurdles that have weakened work at home, and major changes have begun, primarily where some people work. To hold representatives accountable, the association has created a system to prevent the association from releasing workers. Most people do not have much freedom to work remotely. Some of their positions require cooperation with others or the use of certain equipment. In the field, you need to act differently, for example by doing a CT check. There is something similar to transportation in the city. An important part of these positions is low wages and is at great risk due to a wide range of plans such as computerization and digitization.

Other companies felt the need to redistribute the work of lazy workers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are facing emotional changes in specific functional requirements. If certain personnel are paid to work in areas of low business activity, managers may move or relocate them to exert another ability to bring a fairer benefit to the organization. I considered it.

As a last resort, some companies offered unpaid or vacations. Unlike redundancy, vacations include giving vacation time that is definitely or failed and forgotten, in the hope that the person will eventually get back to work. Vacations are ignored, but managers should consult a lawyer before discontinuing employee benefits. If the vacation lasts indefinitely, the company must always talk to the worker. The entity allows or prohibits representatives from using cumulative paid leave during the vacation period unless prohibited by state or local law. State law is at odds with each other as to whether executives can expect their representatives to take a paid vacation during the vacation. Some states allow businesses to request paid leave. However, others, such as California, impose restrictions. If non-exempt representatives do not work, they should not be paid. Exiled workers in the United States should be released in serious weekly increments that coincide with the business week of the business, as they will have to pay a week's compensation if they work for seven days. Based on manufacturing company findings, these strategies were primarily used when organizations tried to retain their employers.

The metropolitan area with the central factory affected by the COVID-19 recession will have a more realistic impact of congestion. Usually, the collapse of the central branch can mean the failure of others nearby, for example, due to the rally "Rust Belt" in 50% of the second half of the 20th century. As a result, metropolitan areas centred on affected companies can face negative impacts on the economy as a whole. Hispanics or Hispanics also generally spread in metropolitan areas where weak organizations of COVID-19 are concentrated. Therefore, the pandemic economic situation at this point is facilitating existing differences and exacerbating racial opportunities for the generosity of Hispanic or Latino families. These administrative measures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 do not take into account the financial and geological truths of this recession and are implemented in a way that undermines the interests of some Hispanic or Latino families. The big picture is that this is especially annoying. During the recession associated with COVID-19, the unemployment rate of all worker groups rose significantly. In any case, the experience of gatherings of certain workers, such as women and ethnic minorities, during the outbreak of COVID-19 is generally unique in the way they faced the Great Recession. External forces also stall Nigeria’s economy as Corvid-19’s pandemic has resulted in an almost complete outage of global cash flow.

The pandemic gives local producers in Nigeria a special opportunity to adapt to the shortage of personal protective equipment. The lack of PPE, supported by the growing interest, the purchase, accumulation and abuse of anxiety, jeopardizes the well-being of many workers around the world. Since the start of the COVID-19 episode, the cost of protective equipment has skyrocketed, and WHO has called on industry and government to increase production by 40% to meet growing needs around the world. The WHO exhibit is expected to require 89 million monthly clinical coatings to support COVID-19. With an estimated glove number of 76 million, global interest in safety goggles remains at 1.6 million each month. First, Nigeria received PPE from WHO and China. However, ongoing research calls for proactive measures to stimulate the development of PPE at the local level. Expectations were raised when the Nigerian army said it had made a fan out of civilian parts and started mass production of personal protective equipment. The Nigerian Défense Industry Corporation (DICON), which manufactures protective equipment and daily necessities, has been approved by the federal government to supply large quantities of prestigious non-porous PPE packages. Each unit includes standard clothing, face shields and veils that can be sold at a reasonable price. He said PPE is currently being shipped in large quantities for use by the Kaduna state government and other government partners. In addition, DICON designers, consultants, and clinical teams have effectively created a computerized ventilator known as DICOVENT. Manufacturers usually benefit significantly from the manufacture of personal protective equipment and ventilators in Nigeria.

Based on responses from various managers, there was some agreement that COVID-19 had a significant impact on the job market, with 70% of managers from the US and Nigeria saying that the pandemic had a major impact on labour market. 30% believe the pandemic has had a moderate impact. According to these managers, the pandemic has also led to new ways of earning money, such as the production of PPE and other medical equipment needed to fight the disease. The pandemic is mainly associated with adverse effects worldwide. The pace of production of various companies was affected, although new industries came together to fill the emerging gaps that required the production of various protective clothing, such as face masks and equipment used for testing and prevention. According to managers, the pandemic has affected the economies of Nigeria and the United States.

The 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on the performance of all US states, the economic sector, and the labour market in key demographics.[footnoteRef:80] The COVID-19 pandemic had an ambiguous impact on the economic sector. The leisure and hospitality sector has lost the most jobs since January 2020, and the last people to work in this sector have consistently experienced some of the highest unemployment rates across the pandemic. In addition, the education and services sector and the public sector recorded the second and third highest unemployment rates since January 2020, despite the relatively low unemployment rates last hired in these sectors. Workers with a low level of education have a high unemployment rate. This pattern has intensified during the current recession. [80: Atkeson, A. (2020). What will be the economic impact of COVID-19 in the US? Rough estimates of disease scenarios (No. w26867). National Bureau of Economic Research. ]

The unemployment rate for workers without a high school diploma peaked in April 2020 (21.0%), higher than the peak for all other education-level workers. Unemployment remains the main reason for both developed and developing countries, and therefore generally loses financial and economic influence. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not overwhelming with the same severity. Existing vulnerabilities have been identified and inequality has taken hold. Many of those with more limited means and protection, such as workers in the informal sector and workers in different environments, were mostly unable to withstand the effects of the crisis. The unemployment rate in the United States is affected by a variety of factors, including education levels and sectors during a pandemic. The unemployment rates in Alaska and California were 6.7% and 8.3%, respectively. California is classified as a country with an unemployment rate. In terms of unemployment rate by sector, the hospitality sector showed the highest unemployment rate.

Regardless of the problem, different organizations use different strategies to retain their employees. The results show that US and Nigerian manufacturers are using different strategies that they believe are effective in maintaining the workforce. Strategies included layoffs and were sometimes perceived as harmful to workers. Working from home was a good approach as it prevented further transmission of the disease. This did not affect the productivity of the organization, as the workers played the role remotely. The final approach was to delegate the task to idle.

Although this phenomenon is fictitious, the pandemic was primarily associated with negative consequences. There are pros and cons. The pandemic gives local producers in Nigeria a special opportunity to adapt to the shortage of personal protective equipment. The lack of PPE, supported by the growing interest, the purchase, accumulation and abuse of anxiety, jeopardizes the well-being of many workers around the world. Since the start of the COVID-19 episode, the cost of protective equipment has skyrocketed, and WHO has called on industry and government to increase production by 40% to meet growing needs around the world. The WHO exhibit is expected to require 89 million monthly clinical coatings to support COVID-19. With an estimated glove number of 76 million, global interest in safety goggles remains at 1.6 million each month. First, Nigeria received PPE from WHO and China. However, ongoing research calls for proactive measures to stimulate the development of PPE at the local level. Expectations were raised when the Nigerian army said it had made a fan out of civilian parts and started mass production of personal protective equipment. The federal government to supply large quantities of prestigious non-porous PPE packages has approved the Nigerian Defense Industry Corporation (DICON), which manufactures protective equipment and daily necessities. Each unit includes standard clothing, face shields and veils that can be sold at a reasonable price.

On the other hand, the pandemic also harmed the economy. For example, unemployment has harmed the economy due to lower GDP. A significant sector of the economy also suffered more than the sector that brought foreign income to the state. The pandemic was primarily related to restrictions banning travel from one state to another. The hotel department also suffered. Regarding the manufacturing industry. The organization had low productivity due to layoffs and reduced demand for products. Society has focused on meeting the basic needs that have influenced the sale of non-essential products from manufacturers.

This study reveals that pandemics had both positive and negative effects on subjects. For example, increased transmission speeds resulted in layoffs, negatively impacting the productivity of the organization. Holidays also affected productivity. These approaches to employee retention are impacting the revenue generated by the organization. It was also clear that the pandemic led to unemployment. On the one hand, this phenomenon has created opportunities for the manufacture of personal protective equipment and medical devices used to provide support to various organizations. Unpaid leave is an option available to bosses.[footnoteRef:81] Unlike redundancy, vacations include giving vacation time that is definitely or failed and forgotten, in the hope that the person will eventually get back to work. Vacations are ignored, but managers should consult a lawyer before discontinuing employee benefits. If the vacation lasts indefinitely, the company must always talk to the worker. The entity allows or prohibits representatives from using cumulative paid leave during the vacation period, unless prohibited by state or local law. State law is at odds with each other as to whether executives can expect their representatives to take paid vacation during the vacation. Some states allow businesses to request paid leave. However, others, such as California, impose restrictions. If non-exempt representatives do not work, they should not be paid. [81: Covington and Burling, (2020). Ten Ways to Avoid Layoffs During the COVID-19 Pandemic https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=72d7712f-04c6-499b-ad79-954e8103cdeb]

This study has reviewed some relevant literature, shown data collection, analysed the data, and discussed the findings and result from the interview conducted. It has also shown the methods used in the collection of data. This last chapter deals with my concluding reflection and recommendation for practice and further research. These components if given proper attention could result in amelioration of the evil impact of COVID-19 on the American and Nigerian labour market and business communities. This will in turn help other countries in the global world struggling with this evil pandemic. It will create enabling environment for recovery and future growth.

My research gives some business management insights and investigated the impacts or effects of COVID-19 on American and Nigerian labour market. These could enhance or lower the morale of business organizations and their output. My data collection method is Interview. The data collected through these method highlights some themes that are critical to the experiences of the subjects involved. These themes include:

Workload, stress, and anxiety –Similar to the findings reported in the literature review, many participants in this study noted increased stress, anxiety, and confusion because of Government policies and interventions, restrictions on the movement of goods and services as a result of the strict lockdown placed at various countries in Nigeria and the United States of America. These ought about some difficulties and constituted big challenges to business in both countries.

Leadership and management – This plays a great role in the ameliorating the economic impacts of COVID-19 on both human and material resources. This study reveals that Leadership structure in some countries can become such a stumbling block that worsens the effect of COVID-19. For instance, the exclusion, isolation and unilateral foreign policies of President Donal Trump in the USA contributed to the spread of the pandemic and the slowing down of business and services in America. The strict and nepotic policy approach of President Buhari made Nigeria worse and very critically endangered at the time of the pandemic. While other counties were actively guiding their citizens on how to stay away and to isolate, there were constant mass demonstrations in Nigeria with the result of people mixing, contacting, and spreading the virus. Governments of Nigeria and United States need to reform and when this is done, the adverse impact of the pandemic will be overcome sooner than later. The change of government in the United States saw a swift change of the direction of government. Massive testing and application of vaccine has brought the pandemic at its all-time low in that country. Business is spring up again and life seems to be returning back.

Mentoring and Support - The data support the view that support and mentoring are essential to support and sustain mangers and businesses. The American market being the biggest in the world can mentor Nigeria and together, the adverse impact of COVID-19 if not overcome, can be reduced considerably.

Job satisfaction among managers and employees – There are complaints of dwindling job satisfaction among managers and employees when furlough was imposed as a result of COVID-19.

Business identity – This suffered a heavy set back as a result of the pandemic. The data reveal that businesses in Nigeria and US suffered and even lost its identity due to the confusion and stagnation that ensues during this COVID-19 crisis. This has impacts on the lives of managers and employees in a negative way. Support, training and some reorientation is needed to restore confidence and redefine business identity.

The focus of this study is searching for solutions to the consequences of the impact of COVID-19 on the Nigerian and US labour markets. The recommendations for further research and for good practice are also tailored along this main focus/thrust. Although these recommendations are applicable to other areas of research especially in the area of business and health, they are particularly focused on US and Nigerian labour markets. The recommendations are as follows:

(a) Need for good culture and healthy climate. The statistics from this research support the view that that COVID-19 has serious adverse effects on the Nigerian and US businesses and labour market. This constitutes huge challenge to managers of business organisation on both countries. One good way to improve this is by developing good climate and healthy culture that is open to change, inclusive and adaptable. These are mainly management and leadership acts. Governments should collaborate with the business managements and research to work out rescue mechanisms. The UK and US did that with the introduction of economic packages to rescue businesses from the COVID-19. Leadership should provide and promote a culture and climate that is supportive of business and management at this time.

(b) Promotion of sound management ethics and vision. The promotion of management ethics and vision are critical importance in growing the economy especially in developing countries where corruption and graft are the order of the day. These management ethics and vision should be clear and distinct and strictly applied or followed. In other words, they should not be vague or elusive. They should set out the meaning, values and beliefs that reflect the best in business in their particular countries.

(c) Need for collaboration Team work and collaboration should be fostered and collective responsibility encouraged. This will bring about an atmosphere of mutual support which lies at the heart of motivation across countries with special reference to the developed and developing countries like Nigeria and the US. Developing team work and collaboration enables small counties to grow while it sustains big countries who need those small countries for raw materials and markets for their goods.

(d) Identity and recognition are powerful antidote to loss of motivation, loss of a sense of success, loss of a sense of self-worth, and a sense of being taken for granted. Both the developing and developed countries need this business character in good measure to keep them going especially during the time of crisis such as the world faces at this moment. Having made a few recommendations for practice, I will now give some input on areas that can be pursued for further research.

The issues of gender and race were not considered and hence this becomes a good subject for further research. Here it may be good to consider how, for instance, gender roles affect business at a time of pandemic. How does these affect motivation, commitment and globalization? This includes an investigation on the experiences of Nigeria and United States in the whole area of gender and race. How does this affect labour attrition rate? Could it be that male mangers perceive their professional experiences and aspirations differently to the female ones? Race is yet another factor that can be explored for further research. How does race affect labour attrition rate in a time of pandemic? What effects does these have on business and management? What are the differences for instance in the motivation factors for white mangers and their black counterparts?

Emotional factors are yet another area worth investigating further. People are susceptible to stress and burn-out as a result of COVID-19. It may be good to investigate further the whole area of stress and burn-out and how various mangers and business organizations respond to them.

Another area of further research is a comparative study of Nigeria as a developing economy and the developed or veteran business country like the United States of America. Are there noticeable differences in their adaptability to working conditions? What are they? These are needed so as to extend the scope of this study. This research has emphasized that COVID-19 has serious consequences to the Nigerian and US labour market. Further research should examine what constitutes good business environment and the behaviours of countries to similar business and management challenge. Finally, participants in this research should be interviewed again so as to find out whether their perceptions are now different from what it was when they were first interviewed.

Reference

Akubueze, T.C. (2010) Research Methods and Statistics in Education and the Social Sciences. Nigeria: Spiritan Publications.

Addison, T. Hansen, H. & Tarp, F. 2004. Debt Relief for Poor Countries. New York: Palgrave Macmillan

Adejugbe, A. 1987. The Structure of Nigerian Economy (eds. F.A Olaloku, and Fajana, F.A.Lagos; Macmillan Publishers the University of Lagos

Alicia Shane, Hopkinsville Kentucky (2021), Personal Telephone interview

Amin, M.E. (2005) Social Science Research: Conception, Methodology and Analysis. Makerere University Press, Kampala.

Atkeson, A. (2020). What will be the economic impact of COVID-19 in the US? Rough estimates of disease scenarios (No. w26867). National Bureau of Economic Research.