The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has highlighted persistent regional, gender, and locality-based disparities in unemployment, with Greater Accra recording the highest youth unemployment rate and Bono East the lowest.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu disclosed this during the release of the Labour Force Statistics for Quarters 1 to 3 of 2025 in Accra on Thursday, December 18.
He noted that rural areas continue to experience higher levels of underemployment and labour underutilisation, while females face greater disadvantages in job quality and unemployment outcomes. These inequalities, he stressed, are often masked by national averages and require targeted, region-specific interventions.
Despite strong employment growth, job quality remains a significant challenge, with more than two-thirds of employed persons engaged in vulnerable employment, particularly women, rural workers, and those in agriculture. Own-account work dominates the labour market, reflecting limited access to secure wage jobs and widespread informality.
The national unemployment rate showed slight fluctuations, declining from 13.1% in the Fourth Quarter of 2024 to 12.8% in the First Quarter of 2025, further easing to 12.6% in the Second Quarter before rising to 13.0% in the Third Quarter.
Dr. Iddrisu explained that while jobs are increasing, new job creation is not keeping pace with the influx of new entrants, especially young people and urban job seekers. Youth unemployment remained consistently above the national average, peaking at 32.4% for those aged 15–24. Additionally, 21.5% of young people in this age group were not in employment, education, or training (NEET), representing a substantial loss of productive potential.
Urban areas recorded higher unemployment rates than rural areas, and females continued to face higher unemployment than males.
In light of these findings, the GSS outlined four key policy priorities: urgently addressing youth employment through apprenticeships, school-to-work transitions, digital and technical skills training, and reintegration pathways for NEET populations; improving job quality by reducing vulnerable employment through formalisation, enterprise development, access to finance, and stronger labour protections, especially in agriculture and rural areas; aligning skills development with labour market demands via better coordination between government, training institutions, and employers; and supporting shift-based and flexible work arrangements responsibly, with clear standards to protect workers’ safety, health, and income security as the country pursues its 24-Hour Economy agenda.
The GSS also urged households and individuals to invest in skills development and lifelong learning, while encouraging businesses to enhance training, internships, and workforce development initiatives.