The Ghana Statistical Service has revealed that jobs are increasing, but the unemployment rate in Ghana is not falling.
Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, noted that despite the strong employment numbers, job quality remains a major challenge.
The Government Statistician revealed that more than two-thirds of employed persons were in vulnerable employment, especially women, rural workers and persons in Agriculture.
He detailed that youth unemployment among persons aged 15 to 24 consistently exceeded the national average, with the highest rates (32.4%).
Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, on Thursday, December 18, stated, “The key message here is that jobs are increasing, but the unemployment rate is not falling in a sustained way. New job creation is still not fast enough to absorb new entrants, especially young people and urban job seekers.
“Youth unemployment consistently exceeded the national average, with the highest rates (32.4%) recorded among persons aged 15 to 24. In addition, about 21.5 per cent of young people aged 15–24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET)”.
“This represents a significant loss of productive potential and underscores the urgency of targeted youth employment and skills interventions. Urban unemployment remained higher than rural unemployment, and females continued to experience higher unemployment rates than males,” he said.
The Ghana Statistical Service data comes at a time when the minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has been firing shots at the NDC-led government over its failure to provide clarity on its flagship 24-Hour Economy policy.
The Minority leader noted that despite the campaign promises that the 24-Hour Economy policy would create massive employment opportunities for Ghanaians, the 2026 budget failed to mention it.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament, revealed that the government is targeting total revenue and grants of GH¢268.1 billion for 2026.
He further revealed that the government aims to create up to 800,000 new jobs across various sectors.
The Finance Minister also highlighted that GH¢110 million has been allocated in the 2026 budget for the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy Programme
Afenyo-Markin, speaking shortly after the Minister for Finance’s budget statement, quizzed the Mahama government on where the one job running three shifts is.
According to Afenyo-Markin, Ghanaian youths are asking for the NDC’s promised one job running three shifts to provide three jobs.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, Afenyo-Markin stated, “When Ghanaians voted for the NDC, they said they were bringing them jobs. They said they would do this through their flagship 24-Hour Economy — one job running three shifts to provide three jobs.
“Go to Ga Mashie and other places; the youth there are asking where the jobs are or the 24-Hour Economy. But the budget didn’t even mention it. Yet you have MPs singing about a policy they cannot even see”, he added.