Ghana’s unemployment crisis has deepened, with the country’s average unemployment rate surging to 14.7 percent during the first three quarters of 2023, according to data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The figures reveal a concerning trend, with the number of unemployed youth aged between 15 and 35 increasing from about 1.2 million to over 1.3 million over the same period. Notably, the rate of unemployment among females consistently exceeded that of males.
The findings, sourced from the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Quarter Three Labour Bulletin, highlight the severity of the unemployment situation, particularly among Ghana’s youth demographic.
Key points from the survey indicate:
- A sharp increase in the unemployment rate among females between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, leading to a wider gender gap in unemployment in 2023 compared to 2022.
- Approximately 440,000 individuals joined the labour force between the first and third quarters of 2023, with more than 60.0 percent of them finding employment during this period.
- Despite variations in urban employment rates, the number of employed persons in urban areas remained relatively stable throughout the first three quarters of 2023. Conversely, rural areas experienced a temporary increase in employment before declining in the third quarter of 2023.
- The disparity in unemployment rates between urban and rural areas widened throughout the first three quarters of 2023, with the urban unemployment rate nearly doubling that of rural areas in the second and third quarters.
- The overall unemployment rate among females consistently surpassed that of males, underscoring the gender disparity within the workforce.
- The labour force participation rate experienced a significant increase between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 but remained stable throughout the subsequent quarters.
- The ability of the labour market to absorb individuals seeking employment, as indicated by the absorption rate, showed an upward trend from the second quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.
These statistics paint a bleak picture of Ghana’s employment landscape, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to address unemployment, particularly among the youth and females, and importantly to foster inclusive economic growth and development.