The informal sector continues to dominate Ghana’s employment market, employing 75% of the workforce.
However, this sector frequently produces precarious and low-wage work, making it a significant contributor to widespread underemployment.
The 2023 Ghana Human Development Report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ghana Statistical Service and the NDPC, advocated a number of initiatives to stop the tide.
According to the research, youth unemployment remains dangerously high, with 65% of young people aged 15 to 24 unemployed, highlighting a critical concern for the country’s future growth.
Ghana’s long-term development goals depend on addressing these problems, which highlight the critical need for strategic investments in digital infrastructure, human capital, and technology to promote equitable economic growth and sustained job creation.
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The paper, titled “The Future Value of Work in Ghana: Pathways to Sustainable Jobs,” promotes a comprehensive strategy to close the gap between the employment options available today and the changing nature of the labor market. The research also recommended expanding STEM/STEAM education and entrepreneurship training into the educational system to provide young people the tools they need to succeed in the workforce.
The paper urges cooperation between the public and corporate sectors as well as between individuals and civil society.
Prioritizing a national consensus on long-term development plans as Ghana approaches key milestones such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and its centenary of independence in 2057 will ensure that every citizen benefits from decent work and higher living standards.
