Ghana Statistical Service reports 2m youth not in employment or training

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that nearly two million young people between the ages of 15 and 35 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) during the third quarter of 2025. This group represents a significant portion of the country's youth demographic, which currently stands at approximately 12 million people, or about one-third of the national population. The data highlights a growing challenge in integrating the younger generation into the productive sectors of the economy.

According to the GSS, the average NEET rate for the first nine months of 2025 stood at 17.9%. A stark gender disparity was observed within the findings, as young women constitute more than 60% of those categorized as neither working nor studying. This trend suggests that young women face significantly higher barriers to accessing both the labor market and educational opportunities compared to their male counterparts.

The report further identified significant regional and residential disparities in youth engagement. The Central Region recorded the highest rate of youth inactivity in the country at 25.3%. Additionally, the data showed that youth in urban areas are more likely to be disengaged, with an urban NEET rate of 20.6% compared to 18% in rural communities. These figures point to a concentrated challenge in Ghana's cities and specific regions where job creation or educational placement may not be keeping pace with population growth.

The GSS emphasized that it will continue to monitor these employment and education trends to inform government policy and strategic planning. The service noted that the findings are intended to assist policymakers in developing targeted interventions to address the specific needs of the nearly two million youth currently outside the workforce and the classroom, ensuring the country can better leverage its youthful population for economic development.