This study examined the relationship between hired labour use and food security among rural farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria. It determined the food security status of rural farming households and investigated the determinants of hired labour use. A four-stage random sampling technique was used to select 135 rural farming households from which data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and the Tobit regression model were the analytical tools used for the study. The study revealed that only about half of the households (51.1%) were food secure and that there is a positive correlation between the hired labour use and their food security status. Dependency ratio, age and educational qualification of the household head, total household size, and household income significantly influenced hired labour use (p<0.01). The study recommends the need for agricultural credit schemes in Nigeria to accord higher priority to older farmers and poor rural households. In addition, extension education which emphasizes agriculture as a business rather than a mere way of life should be promoted among farmers.