In a recent report released by the Ghana Statistical Service, the unemployment rate in Ghana has increased to 14.7 percent, with a higher proportion of females than males being unemployed.
From the report, there was a decrease in female unemployment relative to male unemployment between the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, which was attributed partially to employment opportunities during festive season.
Presenting the report at the Release of the Ghana 2023 Annual Household Income & Expenditure Survey, Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kwabena Annim highlighted a transition for many individuals into either employment or unemployment status.
He noted that in over 60% of individuals who exited the labour force during the first three quarters of 2023, approximately 250,000 people, found employment, while the rest entered the unemployed category.
Prof. Annim also mentioned a steady increase in the absorption rate (the employment-to-population ratio) by 5.6 percentage points since the second quarter of 2022, indicating a consistent trend towards higher employment rates.
However, the report also underscores the urban-driven nature of unemployment, with a significant gap observed between urban and rural unemployment rates, especially during festive periods.
Youth unemployment remains a concern, with an increase noted from 1,264,230 during the third quarter of 2022 to 1,336,677 during the third quarter of 2023.
Nevertheless, efforts to tackle youth unemployment are underway, according to the GSS, recognizing that this demographic constitutes more than three-quarters of the unemployed population.
Throughout all quarters, the Eastern, Bono East, Oti, and Upper West regions consistently maintained unemployment rates below the national average, while the
Greater Accra and Ashanti regions consistently reported unemployment rates surpassing the national average over the same period.
The Government Statistician urged collaboration between the Ministry of Employment, Labour Relations, and the Ghana Statistical Service to ensure comprehensive data collection and analysis, enabling informed policy interventions such as the unemployment insurance scheme.
“Without a deep understanding of labour market dynamics, efforts to address unemployment may only scratch the surface,” he emphasized.
