More than 1.3 million young people in Ghana were neither employed, enrolled in school, nor undergoing any form of training as of the third quarter of 2025, according to fresh data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

The GSS report indicates that approximately 1.3 million individuals aged 15 to 24 – representing 21.5 per cent of that demographic – fall into the ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET) category. This figure has sparked renewed anxieties regarding youth disengagement and its potential long-term consequences for the nation’s productivity and social cohesion.

Significant regional disparities were also revealed. The Central Region recorded the highest NEET rate among persons aged 15 to 35, at 25.3 per cent, while the Oti Region had the lowest, at 9.5 per cent. These differences highlight the uneven distribution of opportunities for employment, education, and skills development across the country.

Beyond outright unemployment, the GSS data points to widespread labour underutilisation. Nearly one in five employed Ghanaians were found to be underutilised, pushing the overall labour underutilisation rate up to 23.4 per cent from 23.0 per cent in the second quarter.

This underemployment was particularly pronounced in rural areas, where job quality and working hours tend to be limited compared to urban centres. “The situation in rural Ghana requires urgent attention, as it suggests a lack of decent work opportunities for many young people,” a labour economist, Dr. Kwame Addo, told JoyNews in an interview.

The report further underscored the persistent issue of skills mismatches in the Ghanaian labour market. While around two-thirds of employed persons felt their skills aligned with their job requirements, over 10 per cent, especially men in urban areas, reported being overqualified for their current positions.

Youth unemployment rates continue to surpass the national average, with the Greater Accra Region experiencing the highest levels. This has prompted calls from policymakers and stakeholders for targeted interventions focused on skills development, job creation, and region-specific strategies to effectively integrate young people into the workforce.

The GSS data serves as a critical indicator of the challenges facing Ghana’s youth and the need for comprehensive policies to address these issues and unlock their full potential.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE