Ghana’s unemployment rate declined slightly to 13.6 percent by the end of 2024, down from 14.6 percent the previous year, according to new data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

The figures, contained in the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (Fourth Quarter Labour Statistics 2024), show a modest one-percentage point improvement in overall joblessness.

Despite the progress, the survey highlights continuing challenges, particularly among the youth. About 22.5 percent of Ghanaians aged 15 to 35 remain unemployed, underscoring persistent difficulties for first-time job seekers and graduates.

The Q4 2024 data presents a mixed picture. Total employment rose to 12.73 million an increase of 1.15 million compared with the previous year. However, the number of unemployed persons also climbed by roughly 200,000 year-on-year, suggesting that labour force growth is outpacing the economy’s ability to absorb new entrants.

Gender trends were also significant. Female employment consistently exceeded male employment throughout 2024, with the gap widening from about 632,000 in Q1 2022 to 1.12 million in Q4 2024.

Analysts say this reflects rising female labour participation and growing opportunities for women, though disparities in job quality remain.

The GSS further noted wide variations in unemployment and underemployment across regions, sexes, and localities, pointing to uneven access to stable and formal work.

Another key concern flagged in the report is the persistently high rate of NEETs (youth not in employment, education, or training), which the agency described as a major factor in youth exclusion and long-term labour underutilisation.