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Labour · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income

Ghana: the labour market

Labour force is 13.3m (2025), 46th of 187 in the world and 11th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Participation rate is 58.5% (2025), 115th of 187 in the world and 32nd of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women's participation is 55.3% (2025), 79th of 187 in the world and 28th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Labour force13.3m2025 · world 46/187 · region 11/47Participation rate58.5%2025 · world 115/187 · region 32/47Women's participation55.3%2025 · world 79/187 · region 28/47Employment rate56.8%2025 · world 97/187 · region 26/47
Labour force
Ghana
05.0m10.0m15.0m1995200020052010201520202025Ghana13.3m
Participation rate
GhanaSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
55%60%65%70%75%1995200020052010201520202025Ghana58.5%Sub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
13 indicators

Labour: Ghana in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Labour forceLabour force, total13.3m202546/18711/478.2m11.1m12.3m+8.6%since 2015527m1.2bn3.7bn
Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+58.5%2025115/18732/4772.5%71.8%61.6%−10.7 ppsince 201570.3%58.2%61.0%
Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+55.3%202579/18728/4768.9%67.5%58.0%−9.8 ppsince 201565.2%39.2%48.9%
Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO)56.8%202597/18726/4764.9%68.0%59.7%−7.8 ppsince 201566.3%55.6%58.1%
UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO)3.0%2025148/18735/4710.5%5.4%3.2%−3.8 ppsince 20155.7%4.5%4.8%
Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO)3.2%2025151/18735/4710.7%5.9%3.3%−3.3 ppsince 20156.3%4.9%4.9%
Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO)5.8%2025156/18731/4716.4%11.1%6.3%−8.4 ppsince 201510.1%13.1%13.4%
Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, %18.2%202585/17031/4430.4%20.2%22.7%2021−13.0 ppsince 2015—21.8%—
Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment32.5%2025151/18720/4717.2%21.1%29.8%+8.9 ppsince 201522.3%29.6%53.6%
Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO)60.0%202540/18730/4777.0%73.6%63.1%−10.8 ppsince 201571.0%65.5%42.4%
Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment34.6%202548/18732/4764.0%48.8%37.4%−8.9 ppsince 201549.3%39.8%25.8%
Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment18.3%2025104/18713/4713.2%15.2%15.2%+0.9 ppsince 201512.2%22.4%23.7%
Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment47.2%2025140/18716/4722.8%36.0%47.4%+7.9 ppsince 201538.5%37.8%50.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Ghana and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Ghana. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorGhanaCôte d'IvoireBurkina FasoTogo
Labour force13.3m202513.1m20259.9m20253.0m2025
Participation rate58.5%202567.1%202570.0%202557.8%2025
Women's participation55.3%202559.5%202564.1%202556.6%2025
Employment rate56.8%202565.5%202567.6%202556.7%2025
Unemployment3.0%20252.3%20253.5%20252.0%2025
Female unemployment3.2%20252.6%20254.3%20252.0%2025
Youth unemployment5.8%20254.0%20256.4%20253.4%2025
Youth NEET rate18.2%202518.8%202224.5%202513.0%2022
Wage workers32.5%202529.0%202517.4%202523.4%2025
Côte d'Ivoire: labourBurkina Faso: labourTogo: labour
Labour in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedLabour: lower-middle-income countries47 economies rankedLabour: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesGhana: all key statisticscountry profile