In 2020, the unemployment rate in Ghana was at approximately 3.06 percent of the total labor force. The unemployment rate is the percentage of a country's labor force that are without jobs but are available to work and actively seeking employment. Ghana’s unemployment rate is above the worldwide unemployment rate, and compared to other Sub-Saharan African countries and other regions, Ghana has a relatively average rate of unemployment. Ghana’s population Due to the nature of its economy and its population size of over 30 million people, Ghana’s estimated GDP per capita amounts to just over 2,200 U.S. dollars in 2018 and forecast to rise continually over the next few years. Almost half of the country’s population works in the services sector, and around 33 percent work in agriculture. The population is relatively young, with only around 3 percent of the total population aged 65 years or older. Ghana’s hopeful future One of the most important economic centers of its region, Ghana’s GDP is at over 65 billion U.S. dollars, and it is projected to grow to over 97 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. Ghana is a country with several valuable natural resources, including gold, petroleum, cocoa, and natural gas. The country’s economy is particularly focused on manufacturing and exporting digital technology goods, and industrial materials. Ghana utilizes these exports domestically as well; its mixed economy is increasingly digital based. A regional leader, it has the goal of being the first African nation to become a developed country in the next decade. There are several positive indications encouraging this possibility, such as that GDP has grown each year, albeit at inconsistent rates.

Unemployment Rate in Ghana increased to 3.60 percent in 2023 from 3.50 percent in 2022. This dataset provides - Ghana Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The total unemployed population in Ghana was estimated to reach some 592,000 in 2024, slightly increasing from the preceding year, when around 582,000 people were not in any form of employment. In 2015, the peak of unemployment was observed in the country. Overall, the rate of unemployment has been following a downward trend.

The youth unemployment rate in Ghana saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 5.5 percent. Still, 2023 marked the third consecutive decline of the youth unemployment rate. The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population aged 15 to 24 currently without work but in search of employment. The youth unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more statistics on other topics about Ghana with key insights such as labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64, labor force participation rate for males, and employment level in services as a share of total employment.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above data was reported at 11.900 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.200 % for 2013. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 5.200 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.900 % in 2015 and a record low of 3.600 % in 2006. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G006: Unemployment Rate: Labour Force Survey. Unemployment rate is computed based on persons who within the reference period, were without jobs and were “potentially” available for jobs.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: Urban: Male data was reported at 14.418 % in Sep 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.195 % for Jun 2023. Ghana Unemployment Rate: Urban: Male data is updated quarterly, averaging 13.047 % from Mar 2022 (Median) to Sep 2023, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.808 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 12.445 % in Sep 2022. Ghana Unemployment Rate: Urban: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G011: Unemployment Rate: Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey.

In 2024, the unemployed male population in Ghana was estimated at around 295,500. On the other hand, the female population without any form of employment was projected to be slightly higher, at approximately 297,000. The number of people of working age who are not in employment has fluctuated since 2010. In 2015, the rate of unemployment in Ghana reached a peak of nearly seven percent.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Urban data was reported at 13.400 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.500 % for 2013. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 6.500 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.400 % in 2015 and a record low of 6.300 % in 2006. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G006: Unemployment Rate: Labour Force Survey.

In 2022, the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in Ghana remained nearly unchanged at around 70.58 percent. Nevertheless, this was the first time during the observed period that the labor participation rate increased in Ghana. The labor force participation rate refers to the share of the population aged 15 years and over who are economically active. Unemployed people actively searching for work are included, whereas the long-term unemployed (economically inactive) are not. It is calculated by dividing the total number of workers aged 15 and over by the total population aged 15 and over.Find more statistics on other topics about Ghana with key insights such as labor force participation rate for males, employment level in services as a share of total employment, and youth unemployment rate.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: Female data was reported at 17.718 % in Sep 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.546 % for Jun 2023. Ghana Unemployment Rate: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 16.585 % from Mar 2022 (Median) to Sep 2023, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.193 % in Mar 2023 and a record low of 12.320 % in Dec 2022. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 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.G011: Unemployment Rate: Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey.

In 2022, the employment level in services as a share of total employment in Ghana remained nearly unchanged at around 41.39 percent. These figures refer to the share of the overall labor force working in service industries such as retail, hospitality, transport, IT, or communications.Find more statistics on other topics about Ghana with key insights such as youth unemployment rate, labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64, and labor force participation rate for males.

Abstract

Survey based Harmonized Indicators (SHIP) files are harmonized data files from household surveys that are conducted by countries in Africa. To ensure the quality and transparency of the data, it is critical to document the procedures of compiling consumption aggregation and other indicators so that the results can be duplicated with ease. This process enables consistency and continuity that make temporal and cross-country comparisons consistent and more reliable.

Four harmonized data files are prepared for each survey to generate a set of harmonized variables that have the same variable names. Invariably, in each survey, questions are asked in a slightly different way, which poses challenges on consistent definition of harmonized variables. The harmonized household survey data present the best available variables with harmonized definitions, but not identical variables. The four harmonized data files are

a) Individual level file (Labor force indicators in a separate file): This file has information on basic characteristics of individuals such as age and sex, literacy, education, health, anthropometry and child survival. b) Labor force file: This file has information on labor force including employment/unemployment, earnings, sectors of employment, etc. c) Household level file: This file has information on household expenditure, household head characteristics (age and sex, level of education, employment), housing amenities, assets, and access to infrastructure and services. d) Household Expenditure file: This file has consumption/expenditure aggregates by consumption groups according to Purpose (COICOP) of Household Consumption of the UN.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Individual level for datasets with suffix _I and _L
• Household level for datasets with suffix _H and _E

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents).

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling Frame and Units As in all probability sample surveys, it is important that each sampling unit in the surveyed population has a known, non-zero probability of selection. To achieve this, there has to be an appropriate list, or sampling frame of the primary sampling units (PSUs).The universe defined for the GLSS 5 is the population living within private households in Ghana. The institutional population (such as schools, hospitals etc), which represents a very small percentage in the 2000 Population and Housing Census (PHC), is excluded from the frame for the GLSS 5.

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) maintains a complete list of census EAs, together with their respective population and number of households as well as maps, with well defined boundaries, of the EAs. . This information was used as the sampling frame for the GLSS 5. Specifically, the EAs were defined as the primary sampling units (PSUs), while the households within each EA constituted the secondary sampling units (SSUs).

Stratification In order to take advantage of possible gains in precision and reliability of the survey estimates from stratification, the EAs were first stratified into the ten administrative regions. Within each region, the EAs were further sub-divided according to their rural and urban areas of location. The EAs were also classified according to ecological zones and inclusion of Accra (GAMA) so that the survey results could be presented according to the three ecological zones, namely 1) Coastal, 2) Forest, and 3) Northern Savannah, and for Accra.

Sample size and allocation The number and allocation of sample EAs for the GLSS 5 depend on the type of estimates to be obtained from the survey and the corresponding precision required. It was decided to select a total sample of around 8000 households nationwide.

To ensure adequate numbers of complete interviews that will allow for reliable estimates at the various domains of interest, the GLSS 5 sample was designed to ensure that at least 400 households were selected from each region.

A two-stage stratified random sampling design was adopted. Initially, a total sample of 550 EAs was considered at the first stage of sampling, followed by a fixed take of 15 households per EA. The distribution of the selected EAs into the ten regions or strata was based on proportionate allocation using the population.

For example, the number of selected EAs allocated to the Western Region was obtained as: 1924577/18912079*550 = 56

Under this sampling scheme, it was observed that the 400 households minimum requirement per region could be achieved in all the regions but not the Upper West Region. The proportionate allocation formula assigned only 17 EAs out of the 550 EAs nationwide and selecting 15 households per EA would have yielded only 255 households for the region. In order to surmount this problem, two options were considered: retaining the 17 EAs in the Upper West Region and increasing the number of selected households per EA from 15 to about 25, or increasing the number of selected EAs in the region from 17 to 27 and retaining the second stage sample of 15 households per EA.

The second option was adopted in view of the fact that it was more likely to provide smaller sampling errors for the separate domains of analysis. Based on this, the number of EAs in Upper East and the Upper West were adjusted from 27 and 17 to 40 and 34 respectively, bringing the total number of EAs to 580 and the number of households to 8,700.

A complete household listing exercise was carried out between May and June 2005 in all the selected EAs to provide the sampling frame for the second stage selection of households. At the second stage of sampling, a fixed number of 15 households per EA was selected in all the regions. In addition, five households per EA were selected as replacement samples.The overall sample size therefore came to 8,700 households nationwide.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Ghana Unemployment Rate: Rural data was reported at 9.781 % in Sep 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.810 % for Jun 2023. Ghana Unemployment Rate: Rural data is updated quarterly, averaging 10.206 % from Mar 2022 (Median) to Sep 2023, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.679 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 7.625 % in Dec 2022. Ghana Unemployment Rate: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G011: Unemployment Rate: Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey.

The statistic shows the distribution of employment in Ghana by economic sector from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, 39.74 percent of the employees in Ghana were active in the agricultural sector, 18.86 percent in industry and 41.39 percent in the service sector.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural: Female data was reported at 11.300 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.100 % for 2013. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 4.100 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.300 % in 2015 and a record low of 1.700 % in 2006. Ghana Unemployment 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.G006: Unemployment Rate: Labour Force Survey.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Female data was reported at 12.500 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.500 % for 2013. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 5.500 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.500 % in 2015 and a record low of 3.600 % in 2006. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: 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.G006: Unemployment Rate: Labour Force Survey.

Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Male data was reported at 11.100 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.800 % for 2013. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 4.800 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.100 % in 2015 and a record low of 3.500 % in 2006. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G006: Unemployment Rate: Labour Force Survey.

Abstract

The Job Tracking Survey was conducted to provide credible data for effective monitoring and evaluation of job creation programmes being implemented by the Government. These data were to be used to monitor the progress of the Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Growth and Poverty Reduction Prgramme (GPRP) in Ghana provides a coordinated programme for achieving sectoral, national and international development outcomes including the MDGs. Unemployment reaims a critical challenge in efforts at reducing poverty. Policy orientation in 2006 was therefore towards providing various incentives for firms to invest productively, create jobs and expand. Thus the theme: Investing in People, Investing in Jobs.

The survey targeted firms which are the main source of information on the creation of jobs. The study collected information background of the firms, including the type of operation and ownership. It also collected information on the knowledge and access to various tax incentives granted to the different sectors of the economy and how these have helped the firms in their expansion prograames towards the creation of jobs.

Several indicators including jobs created, job losses, training (both on the job and formal) and level of skills were also collected. Finally, the survey evaluates the impact of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), labour market demand and job vacancies, job quality and related labour market issues.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

Establishments

Universe

Firms within the private and public sector in Ghana.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling for the survey was purposive, and was designed to provide sufficient level of precision for survey estimates for each 3-digit ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classicfication of economic avtivities) domain.

A total of 2,015 establishments in both the private and public sector were covered in the survey. These were made up of 784 from the public sector, made up of 701 public sector institutions in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and other public insitutions in the 138 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. All establishments operating under the President's Special Initiatives (PSIs) were also covered. In addition, 83 public limited companies were covered.

For the private sector, all members of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), members of the Ghana Club 100, and establishments listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange were covered in the survey.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

One questionnaire, the Job Tracking Survey Questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was organized in 11 parts (A - K) and the questions were in English.

Part A was used to collect information on the background of the establishments including Name, Address, Type of Ownership, Organization and Goods and Services produced.

Part B looked at the establishment's connection with any Policy Objectives and Outcomes within the various sectors.

Part C looked the creation of jobs and hiring of personnel.

Part D was devoted to awareness and access to Tax Incentives.

Part E dealt with On-The -Job-Training, Internship and Industrial attachment, while Part F sought for information on Micro-finance, Loans and Grants.

Part G was devoted to outcomes under the National Youth Employment Programme.

Part H collected information on the creation of jobs within the Construction sector.

Parts I and J were used to solicit information on Labour Market Demand and Job Vacancies, Job Quality and other labour market indicators.

PArt K sought for comments and suggestions for the preparation of the 2007 national budget.

Cleaning operations

The GSS data editing occurs at three levels:

1. Field editing by interviewers and supervisors
2. Office editing
3. Data cleaning and imputation

Response rate

All the 2,015 establishments selected in both the private and public sector were covered in the survey.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

households/individuals

Kind of data

Census

Frequency of data collection

Yearly

Sampling procedure

Sample size:

Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural data was reported at 10.200 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.900 % for 2013. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 3.900 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.200 % in 2015 and a record low of 1.600 % in 2006. Ghana Unemployment Rate: 15 Years and Above: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G006: Unemployment Rate: Labour Force Survey.