Ghana added at least 330,000 new jobs between the first and third quarters of 2025, according to data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), bringing total employment to approximately 13.3 million out of a labour force exceeding 15 million. The upward trend contributed to an average unemployment rate of 12.8% over the first three quarters of the year, compared with a 13.7% average over the same period in 2024, reflecting modest gains in job creation amid broader economic challenges.
Despite headline improvements in employment figures, deeper labour market issues persist, particularly among young people. Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu highlighted that youth unemployment remains significantly above the national average, with rates reaching about 34.4% for ages 15–24 in the third quarter of 2025. Around 1.34 million young Ghanaians in this age group were classified as neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET), underscoring ongoing challenges in linking young people to jobs or productive opportunities.
The employment gains were not evenly distributed across sectors or regions. The services sector continued to absorb the largest share of workers, followed by agriculture and industry, while urban areas recorded higher employment levels than rural localities. However, urban unemployment remained higher on average, partly due to strong migration pressures and intensified competition for limited jobs in cities.
Gender disparities also feature prominently in the data. Female employment consistently exceeded male employment, with approximately 7.2 million women employed compared with about 6 million men in the first three quarters of 2025, yet women continued to experience higher unemployment rates on average. This reflects persistent structural challenges affecting women’s access to quality jobs, security and equal opportunities.
Underemployment and labour underutilisation remain significant concerns. The composite labour underutilisation rate stood at around 23.4%, indicating that roughly one in five workers is either underemployed or not fully absorbing their skills and time in productive work. Underutilisation was particularly pronounced in rural areas, where seasonal agricultural work and informal employment predominate.
Youth labour market pressures are compounded by skills mismatches. While about two‑thirds of employed persons reported that their skills matched job requirements, more than 10% said they were over‑skilled, especially among urban workers. Additionally, a notable share described themselves as underqualified relative to job requirements, a challenge more common in rural regions where educational attainment often lags.
The persistent disconnect between job creation and youth labour market outcomes has drawn calls for targeted policy responses. Experts and analysts stress the need to strengthen apprenticeship schemes, facilitate smoother school‑to‑work transitions, and promote skills training programmes aligned to market needs to help young people access sustainable employment. There are also calls for improved access to finance for small and medium enterprises and stronger labour protections to formalise and improve the quality of work available.
Although the increase in employment numbers offers a positive signal for Ghana’s labour market, structural issues, especially youth joblessness, underemployment and regional disparities, highlight that quantitative gains do not necessarily equate to quality livelihoods. Continued efforts are therefore needed to ensure that job growth translates into real economic security and opportunities for the country’s rapidly expanding workforce.
