Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, has stated that Ghana’s unemployment rate remains high at 14.7%, with youth joblessness exceeding 25%.

According to him, over 70% of the labour force, primarily women and young people, remain in the informal sector.

Speaking at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York on July 16, 2025, Dr Iddrisu described the labour market challenge as more than a job's gap, calling it a “dignity gap” that undermines inclusive economic growth.

He stressed the need for coordinated action to address employment vulnerabilities and ensure equitable access to economic opportunities.

“This is not just a job's gap. It is a dignity gap. We have also embedded job creation in our monetary policy objectives through the Bank of Ghana,” he stated.

Dr Iddrisu highlighted key initiatives by the John Mahama-led administration to address this issue.

He cited the government's flagship 24-Hour Economy programme, designed to create jobs and increase employment beyond traditional working hours.

He further underscored the centrality of data in policy delivery, noting the production of quarterly labour statistics since 2022 and the upcoming launch of a national survey on skills mismatches aimed at better aligning workforce training with market demand.

“Our compass for this transformation is data. If we are serious about SDG 8, data must be treated as core infrastructure essential to recovery and not incidental to it,” he stressed.

SP/AE

How Virtual Reality is enhancing business and customer experience