Ghana’s national unemployment rate declined to 13.6 percent at the end of 2024, down from 14.6 percent in 2023, according to the latest Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (Fourth Quarter Labour Statistics 2024) published by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The one-percentage point drop reflects modest progress, but youth unemployment continues to pose a significant challenge. The data shows that 22.5 percent of Ghanaians aged 15 to 35 remain out of work, underscoring persistent difficulties for first-time jobseekers and graduates despite overall employment gains.
In Q4 2024, total employment rose to 12.73 million, representing an annual increase of about 1.15 million jobs. However, the number of unemployed persons also increased by nearly 200,000 compared to the same period in 2023, suggesting that labour-force growth continues to outpace the economy’s capacity to absorb new entrants. Analysts say this points to improvements in job creation but also lingering concerns over job quality and sustainability.
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The survey also highlights notable gender dynamics. Female employment has consistently exceeded male employment throughout 2024, with the gap widening from around 632,000 in Q1 2022 to approximately 1.12 million by Q4 2024. This trend reflects stronger labour participation and job creation for women in absolute terms, though disparities in job quality remain.
Regional and demographic inequalities persist, with unemployment and underemployment varying sharply by sex and locality. Access to stable, formal work continues to be uneven across the labour market.
The GSS further flagged high levels of NEET (youth not in employment, education, or training), warning that this remains a major contributor to youth exclusion and long-term labour underutilisation.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem