BY ISSAH OLEGOR
THE youth population has reached an unprecedented 12 million, representing approximately one in every three people in the country, but rising unemployment and the growing number of young people outside employment, education and training are raising concerns about whether the country is adequately preparing to benefit from its expanding youthful population.
Figures contained in the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) latest publication, Ghana in Numbers, 2025, indicate that about 12 million people aged between 15 and 35 were recorded in 2025, making it the largest youth population in the country’s history.
The publication brings together official statistics on population, economy, society, governance and environment, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s development indicators.
However, beyond the significant demographic figures, the report raises important questions about the availability of jobs, the quality of employment, access to education and whether young Ghanaians possess the skills required by the labour market.
The statistics suggest that while Ghana has a large and potentially productive youthful population, the country continues to face considerable challenges in translating that demographic advantage into meaningful economic opportunities.
During the first three quarters of 2025, unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 averaged 32.4 per cent, while the rate for those aged 15 to 35 stood at 21.9 per cent.
The national unemployment average over the same period was 12.8 per cent. The figures indicate that young people were considerably more likely to be unemployed than the wider working population, highlighting the difficulties many face in securing jobs after completing their education or acquiring professional qualifications.
The difference is particularly significant among the youngest category, with unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 exceeding the national average by almost 20 percentage points.
The report’s findings raise questions about the effectiveness of existing employment interventions, the capacity of the economy to absorb new entrants into the labour market and the extent to which education and vocational training are preparing young people for available opportunities.
Nearly two million young people outside work, education and training
Beyond unemployment, the Ghana Statistical Service has drawn attention to the number of young people who are neither employed nor participating in education or training.
This category, commonly referred to as the NEET population, is considered an important indicator because it captures young people who may be missing out on both immediate employment opportunities and the education or skills development needed to improve their future prospects.
The average NEET rate among people aged 15 to 35 stood at 17.9 per cent during the first three quarters of 2025.
In the third quarter alone, close to two million young people fell within this category. The report further reveals that women accounted for more than 60 per cent of the NEET population, pointing to a significant gender dimension in
Ghana’s youth employment challenge.
Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu highlighted the scale of the problem, stating that close to two million young people were neither working nor enrolled in education or training, with more than six in ten of them being young women.
The figures suggest that young women face particular barriers in accessing employment, education and training opportunities, although the report’s highlighted findings do not specify the individual factors responsible for the disparity.
Regional and residential differences also emerged in the statistics.
The NEET rate was 20.6 per cent in urban areas, compared with 18.0 per cent in rural communities. The Central Region recorded a particularly high rate of 25.3 per cent.
The regional and urban-rural differences underline the need for employment and skills interventions that take account of the varying circumstances of young people across the country.
