Throughout the initial three quarters of 2023, youth unemployment saw a significant increase of 14.6%, according to data released by the Ghana Statistical Service.
The overall unemployment rate for this period stood at 14.7%, marking a 1.1% rise compared to the figures reported in 2022.
One notable trend was the consistent elevation of female unemployment rates compared to male unemployment rates, resulting in a widening gender gap compared to the previous year. This disparity was especially pronounced between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, as highlighted in the 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Third Quarter Labour Statistics Report.
The report also emphasized a progressive widening of the unemployment gap between urban and rural areas during the initial three quarters of 2023. Notably, urban unemployment rates were nearly double those in rural areas during the second and third quarters.
An analysis of regional variations revealed that only four regions — Eastern, Bono East, Oti, and Upper West — reported unemployment rates below the national average across all quarters. Conversely, Greater Accra and the Ashanti region consistently recorded unemployment rates surpassing the national average throughout this period.
The high unemployment rates in Ghana are attributed to a mismatch between the education system and the skills demanded by the labor market. Addressing this misalignment is crucial for fostering better employment opportunities and economic growth in the country.
