Ghana’s labour market continued to face strain during the first three quarters of 2025, with the average unemployment rate holding at 12.8 per cent, pointing to ongoing difficulties in job creation despite brief signs of easing earlier in the year.
These findings are contained in the most recent Labour Statistics report published by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Quarterly Movements Show Fragile Gains
Figures covering Quarter One to Quarter Three reveal only minor shifts in unemployment levels. The rate dipped slightly from 12.8 per cent in the first quarter to 12.6 per cent in the second, before rising again to 13.0 per cent in the third quarter. According to the GSS, this pattern suggests that employment recovery remains weak and uneven.
Gender Disparities Persist
The report highlights a persistent difference between male and female unemployment, with women consistently experiencing higher joblessness throughout the period under review.
On average, the unemployment gap between women and men was 3.7 percentage points, narrowing marginally to 3.6 percentage points by the third quarter. This trend continues to raise concerns about women’s access to employment and economic participation.
Urban Areas Bear the Brunt
Job scarcity was far more pronounced in urban centres, where competition for limited formal-sector opportunities remains intense.
Across the three quarters, urban unemployment averaged 15.1 per cent, significantly higher than the 9.6 per cent recorded in rural areas.
The disparity peaked in the second quarter, when the gap reached 6.2 percentage points. By the third quarter, unemployment stood at 15.4 per cent in urban areas compared to 9.8 per cent in rural communities, leaving a difference of 5.6 percentage points.
Regional Differences Remain Sharp
The data also point to wide regional variations in employment outcomes. The Western, Central, Greater Accra and Ashanti regions consistently posted unemployment rates above the national average throughout the first three quarters of the year.
In the third quarter, when the national rate was 13.0 per cent, all four regions exceeded that figure. This, the GSS noted, reflects deep-rooted structural challenges in some of Ghana’s most economically active regions.
Signs of Improvement in Some Regions
Despite the overall pressure, a few regions recorded modest improvements between the second and third quarters.
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Greater Accra Region saw unemployment fall from 20.2 per cent to 19.6 per cent
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Volta Region improved from 11.9 per cent to 11.4 per cent
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Bono Region declined from 10.0 per cent to 9.4 per cent
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Northern Region reduced from 7.8 per cent to 7.4 per cent
While these reductions are relatively small, the GSS said they offer early indications of gradual adjustment in certain parts of the country.
