Actual value and historical data chart for Ghana Labor Force Total

Ghana GH: Unemployment: National Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 6.806 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.173 % for 2013. Ghana GH: Unemployment: National Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 1.000 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2015, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.360 % in 2000 and a record low of 0.400 % in 1985. Ghana GH: Unemployment: National Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

households/individuals

Kind of data

survey

Frequency of data collection

Yearly

Sampling procedure

Sample size:

Key information about Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate

• Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 63.0 % in Dec 2024, compared with 63.4 % in the previous year.
• Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2024, with an average rate of 72.2 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 77.6 % in Dec 1990 and a record low of 63.0 % in Dec 2024.
• Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Ghana Population reached 31.1 million people in Dec 2020.
• Unemployment Rate of Ghana dropped to 3.0 % in Dec 2024.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 242.0 USD in Dec 2015.

Ghana GH: Labour Force data was reported at 13,636,862.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 13,273,030.000 Person for 2016. Ghana GH: Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 9,186,189.500 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13,636,862.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 6,208,305.000 Person in 1990. Ghana GH: Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.; ; Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2018.; Sum; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

In 2024, the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in Ghana was ***** percent. Between 1990 and 2024, the figure dropped by ***** percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Total Age data was reported at 63.585 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 57.408 % for 2021. Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Total Age data is updated yearly, averaging 72.170 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2022, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.539 % in 1991 and a record low of 57.408 % in 2021. Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Total Age data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.

The labor force in Ghana was estimated to comprise over **** million people aged 25 years and older in 2022. Around **** million people were between the ages of 15 and 24 years, following an increasing trend observed since 2015. The labor force comprises the employed and people of working age who qualify to be employed.

Ghana GH: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 65.517 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 73.709 % for 2013. Ghana GH: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 68.365 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.700 % in 1999 and a record low of 45.820 % in 1984. Ghana GH: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

As of 2022, the labor force participation rate in Ghana stood at slightly over ** percent for people aged 25 years and older. On the other hand, the rate was at **** percent for people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. The legal age allowed for a person to obtain employment in Ghana is 15 years.

Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural: Female data was reported at 76.700 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 83.200 % for 2013. Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 79.950 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2015, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.200 % in 2013 and a record low of 76.700 % in 2015. Ghana Labour Force Participation Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G007: Labour Force Participation Rate: Labour Force Survey.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in Ghana was reported at 63.03 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ghana - Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Abstract

The Ghana Living Standards Survey Round Six (GLSS6) like previous rounds focuses on the household as the key socio-economic unit and provides valuable information on the living conditions and well-being of households in Ghana. This report summarizes the main findings of the sixth round of the GLSS which was conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) from 18th October 2012 to 17th October 2013.

A nationally representative sample of 18,000 households in 1,200 enumeration areas was covered in the survey. Of this number, 16,772 were successfully enumerated leading to a response rate of 93.2 percent. Detailed information collected on Demographic characteristics of households, Education, Health, Employment, Migration and Tourism, Housing conditions, Household Agriculture, Household Expenditure, Income and their components and Access to Financial Services, Credit and Assets, Governance Peace and Security.

The main objectives of the sixth round of the Ghana living Standards Survey Round Six are to: . Provide information on the patterns of household consumption and expenditure at a lower level of disaggregation. . Serve as the basis for the construction of a new basket for the next re-basing of the Consumer Price Index. . Provide information for up-dating the country's National Accounts. . Provide information on household access to and use of financial services. . Estimate the number of persons in the labour force (Employed, Under-employed and Unemployed) and their distribution by sex, major age-groups, educational level, disability status, geographical and rural/ urban spread, as well as the ecological manifestations of these. . Estimate the number of child workers (or children in employment) aged 5-17 years, and its distribution by sex, major age-groups, educational status, geographical, ecological and rural/urban spread, etc.

Publications of the GLSS 6 survey include * GLSS 6 Main Report * Poverty Profile in Ghana, 2005 - 2013 * GLSS 6 Labour Force Report * GLSS 6 Child Labour Report * GLSS 6 Governance Peace and Security Report * GLSS 6 Water Quality Testing Report. * GLSS 6 Community Report

Geographic coverage

Nationally Region

Analysis unit

Individuals, Households, Communities

Universe

The survey covered all household members

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS6), like the previous rounds, was designed to provide nationally and regionally representative indicators. It applied the same sampling methodology, the same questionnaires and covered the same broad range of topics such as education, health, employment, housing conditions, migration and tourism among others.

To cater for the needs of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) areas and also provide nationally representative quarterly labour force statistics, the number of primary sampling units (PSUs) and households were increased from 580 and 8,700 to 1,200 and 18,000 respectively - an increase of about 107% over the GLSS5 figures. (See Appendix 1 Tables A1 and A2).

A two-stage stratified sampling design was adopted. At the first stage, 1,200 enumeration areas (EAs) were selected to form the PSUs. The PSUs were allocated into the 10 regions using probability proportional to population size (PPS). The EAs were further divided into urban and rural localities of residence. A complete listing of households in the selected PSUs was undertaken to form the secondary sampling units (SSUs). At the second stage, 15 households from each PSU were selected systematically. Hence the total sample size came to 18,000 households nationwide. (Refer to Appendix 1 in main GLSSS 6 report.)

Sampling deviation

No deviation from the sample

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Six different questionnaires were used for the GLSS 6 survey: PART A, PART B, SECTION 10, COMMUNITY , PRICE and GOVERNANCE PEACE AND SECURITY questionnaires:

PART A Questionnaire comprise: Section 1: Household roster collecting information on age, sex, marital status, nationality, religion etc. Section 2: Education- General education, Educational carreer, Literacy and Apprenticeship. Section 3: Health - Health conditions, Preventive health, Immunisation, Post natal care, Fertility, Contraceptive use and HIV awareness and Health insurance. Section 4: Employment and time use, activity status and characteristics of main and secondary jobs, underemployment, unemployment,
employment search and housekeeping activities for last 7days and 12 months. Section 5: Migration, Domestic and Outbound tourism. Section 6: Identification of household members for agriculture and Non farm enterprises. Section 7: Housing characteristics (type of dwelling, utilities and housing expenses), Information technology.

PART B Questionnaire sought information on : Section 8: Agricultural assets, Land, Livestock and Equipment, Farm details, Harvest and disposal of crops, Seasonality of sales and purchases of key staples, Other agricultural income in cash and kind, Processing of agricultural produce and Consumption of own produce. Section 9: Household expenditure on food and non food, frequently purchased and less frequently purchased items, Availability of selected consumer items. Section 11: Income transfer and receipts by households, Income and miscellaneous income and expenditure, Migration and Remitances of returned
and current migrants , Improvement to dwelling Section 12: Credit, assets, consumer goods and Savings.

SECTION 10 Questionnaire sought information on Basic characteristics of non farm enterprises, Wage earnings, Employment, Revenue of enterprises, (closing stock, sales and exports), Wholesale and retail activities, Preparation of meals, Other revenue, Expenditure of enterprises and assets of enterprises.

COMMUNITY Questionnaire: Section 1: Demographic information of the community ( total population, ethnic groupings etc) Section 2: Economy and infrastructure Section 3: Education Section 4: Health Section 5: Agriculture

PRICE Questionnaire consist of Food and Non food quantity and prices of selected items.

GOVERNANCE PEACE AND SECURITY Questionnaire sought information on ; Part A: Theft, Robery and Burglary, Part B: Sexual offences Part C: Violence and Security Part D: Safety Part E: Peace and Social Cohesion Part F: Political Engagement Part G: Governance- Effectiveness of Government agencies

Cleaning operations

Data editing took place at a number of stages throughout the processing, including: a) Office editing and coding by field editors b) Using range checks during data capture c) Structure , range and completeness checks d) Secondary editing using batch editing rules developed in CSPro 4.1 e) Consistency check in all sections using STATA

Response rate

A nationally representative sample of 18,000 households in 1,200 enumeration areas was covered in the survey. Of this number, 16,772 were successfully enumerated leading to a response rate of 93.2 percent

Sampling error estimates

Sampling errors were calculated for some key variables. Refer to the GLSS 6 Main Report Appendix 1 attached to external resources for sampling error estimates.

Actual value and historical data chart for Ghana Employment In Agriculture Percent Of Total Employment

Ghana GH: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 76.930 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 76.735 % for 2016. Ghana GH: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 75.412 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.930 % in 2017 and a record low of 74.671 % in 2000. Ghana GH: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Actual value and historical data chart for Ghana Labor Force Female Percent Of Total Labor Force

Panel data on Ghana households from 2009 to 2017

Time series data for the statistic Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) and country Ghana. Indicator Definition:Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.The indicator "Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate)" stands at 5.50 as of 12/31/2024, the lowest value since 12/31/2014. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -1.99 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -1.99.The 3 year change in percent is -11.38.The 5 year change in percent is -9.17.The 10 year change in percent is -41.60.The Serie's long term average value is 9.24. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 40.39 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2013, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +25.66%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2000, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -66.03%.

Time series data for the statistic Unemployment_Rate and country Ghana. Indicator Definition:Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.The statistic "Unemployment Rate" stands at 3.01 percent as of 12/31/2024, the lowest value since 12/31/2014. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.056 percentage points compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percentage points is -0.056.The 3 year change in percentage points is -0.377.The 5 year change in percentage points is -0.153.The 10 year change in percentage points is -1.41.The Serie's long term average value is 5.45 percent. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 2.44 percentage points lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2013, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +0.834.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2000, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -7.45.

Abstract

The Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS), with its focus on the household as a key social and economic unit, provides valuable insights into living conditions in Ghana. This present report gives a summary of the main findings of the fourth round survey, which was carried out by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) over a 12-month period (April 1998 to March 1999).

A representative nationwide sample of more than 5,998 households, containing over 25,000 persons, was covered in GLSS 4. Detailed information was collected on all aspects of living conditions, including health, education, employment, housing, agricultural activities, the operation of non-farm establishments, remittances, savings, and credit and assets. The special focus of GLSS 4 was on collecting detailed labour force, income and expenditure data in respect of all household members.

The key findings of the survey are as follows:

Education

Information are given on levels of educational attainment of the adult population, current school enrolment, educational expenditure by households, adult literacy rates, and apprenticeship training. About 32 percent of all adults (representing nearly three and a half million people) have never been to school, a quarter went to school but did not obtain any qualifications; about 33 percent have the MSLC/JSS certificate as their highest qualification, while the remaining 10 percent (a million adults) have secondary or higher-level qualifications (Section 2.1).

About 8 in every ten children aged 6-15, and about half of those aged 16-18, are currently attending school or college. Attendance rates for females are lower than those for males, especially in the northern half of the country (Section 2.2). The average annual cost to a household of maintaining a person at school or college was ¢163,500 per year in March 1999 cedis (Section 2.3). The survey results indicate that 50 percent of adults in Ghana are literate in English or a local language. There are substantial differences between the sexes, and between localities, with regard to literacy. A little over 6 out of every 10 men, but fewer than 4 out of every 10 women, are literate. More than two-thirds (66%) of adults in urban areas are literate, but in rural areas only 41 percent are literate (Section 2.4).

Health

The survey collected data on each person's health condition over the previous two weeks; on the fertility, pre-natal care and contraceptive use of women aged 15-49; on the post-natal care of children aged 5 years and under; and on the preventive health care and vaccination of children aged 7 years and under. About 26 percent of the sample reported having suffered from an illness or injury in the previous two weeks, 61 percent of whom had to stop their usual activities due to the indisposition (Section 3.2).

The survey found that 7.0 percent of women were currently pregnant, and a further 13.2 percent had been pregnant in the last 12 months. Only about 15 percent of all women aged 15-49 or their partners reported using contraceptives; about 11 percent use modern methods, and 4 percent use traditional methods, to prevent or delay pregnancy (Section 3.3). The level of breastfeeding in Ghana is very high; about 98 percent of all children under 5 have been breastfed at one time or another. About 7 percent of children below the age of 8 have never been vaccinated against any of the childhood killer diseases.

Employment

As a major focus of the survey, a wide range of estimates of economic activity, employment, unemployment, underemployment and working conditions are given in the report. The survey also has detailed information about time spent on housekeeping activities. About 77 percent of the adult population (aged 15+) is currently economically active. The activity rates for males and females differ, with the rate for women in the age group (15-64) lower than those for men, but in the younger age group (7-14) and the older age group (65+) the rates for females exceed those for males. For each age group the activity rates for males and females are higher in rural areas (apart from rural savannah) than in urban areas (Section 4.2).

The majority of the working population is employed in agricultural activities (55.0%), followed by trading (18.3%) and then manufacturing (11.7%). Whereas 27.4 percent of working females are engaged in trading, only 7.4 percent of males are traders. The highest hourly wage rates are obtained in mining and quarrying, followed by financial services and then trading. For all areas of employment, females earn lower wages than males (Section 4.3). About 8 percent of the currently active population can be classified as unemployed, but there is also a high degree of underemployment, with some people having a job but wanting to do more work (Section 4.4).

In many households, particularly in rural areas, family members (especially women) spend a great deal of their time fetching water and firewood, in addition to the time spent on other household activities such as cooking and cleaning (Section 4.5).

Migration

The report provides data on migration to create some awareness that would generate further discussions and research into the complex field of population relocation. Some 52 percent of all Ghanaians are migrants, having previously lived in a locality different from where they are living at present; a further 16 percent have moved away from their birthplace, but subsequently returned (Section 5.1).

Housing

Detailed information is presented on a variety of housing characteristics: the occupancy status of the household; household size and room density; access to drinking water, toilet facilities, source of lighting and fuel, rubbish disposal, and materials used in house construction. A little over 40 percent (24 percent in urban areas and 60 percent in rural areas) of the households own the houses they live in. About 80 percent of the households in urban areas have access to pipe-borne water, compared with only 19 percent in rural areas. More than three-quarters of urban households have electricity for lighting, compared with only 17 percent of rural households. Most urban households use charcoal for cooking, whereas most households in rural areas use firewood. Only 14 percent of urban households, and 2 percent of rural households, have access to a flush toilet (Section 6.3). Household agriculture

About 2.7 million households in Ghana own or operate a farm or keep livestock (Section 7.1). More than half of households, which cultivate crops hire labour for their operations. The major crops, in terms of sales, are cocoa, maize, groundnuts/peanuts, and rice (Section 7.2). About 2 and a half million households process crops or fish for sale, with the major responsibility for this activity falling on women.

Non-farm enterprises

Approximately 1.9 million households or 49 percent of all households in Ghana operate a non-farm business with women operating two-thirds of these businesses. About 56 percent of all businesses involve retail trade, and most of the rest cover some kind of manufacturing (for instance food, beverages, textiles or clothing) (Section 8.1).

Total expenditure

Average annual household expenditure (both cash and imputed) relative to March 1999 prices was about ¢4,244,000. Given an average household size of 4.3, this implies annual per capita expenditure of about ¢987,000 (Section 9.1). With an exchange rate of ¢2,394 to the US dollar prevailing at March 1999, the average annual household expenditure is US$1,773 and the pre-capita expenditure is US$412. Overall, cash expenditure on food represents 45.4 percent of total household expenditure, while the imputed value of own-produced food consumed by households represents a further 10.3 percent (Section 9.2).

Cash expenditure

Relative to March 1999 prices, Ghanaian households spend on average almost ¢3,500,000 a year (at March 1999 prices), or ¢804,000 on per capita basis (Section 9.3). On national terms, just below half of total cash expenditure (46%) went to food and beverages; and alcohol and tobacco, and clothing and footwear, each accounted for about 10 percent of it. The next most important expenditure groups, in terms of amount spent, are recreation and education (7.5%), transport and communications (5.6%), housing and utility (6.4%) and household goods, operations and services (6.0%).

Food consumption

At the time of the survey Ghanaian households (which number about 4.2 million) were spending on average an amount of almost ¢2.4 billion (at March 1999 prices) on food (Section 9.5), with own-grown food consumed amounting to the value of almost ¢435,000 (Section 8.7). The most important food consumption subgroups, in terms of cash expenditure are roots and tubers (22%), fish (16%), cereals and cereal products (15%), vegetables (9%), and meat (5%). Prepared meals account for 11 percent by value of total food consumption.

While the pattern of consumption, in terms of food subgroups, is broadly similar in urban and rural areas, residents in rural areas consume more roots and tubers, and pulses and nuts than their counterparts in urban areas. Expenditure on alcohol and tobacco is also higher in rural areas. In contrast, the consumption of meat and prepared meal are much higher in urban areas than in rural areas, and urban residents spend much more on cereals and cereal products and poultry and poultry products than their rural counterparts (Section 9.5). Remittances

About 76 percent of all households reported having remitted money or goods in the previous 12 months to persons who were not their household members. The bulk of these remittances to non-household members went to relatives (93%), and in particular to parents or children (50%), brothers or sisters (18%), and other relatives (23%). Such income flows from the household benefited females (64%) more than their male