The average rate of unemployment in the country has risen to 14.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2023 has prompted some Ghanaian youths to consider leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
The number of unemployed youths aged between 15 and 35 rose from about 1.2 million to over 1.3 million during the same period with the rate among females consistently higher than males.
This is according to records sourced from the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Quarter Three Labour Bulletin by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The survey further indicated that the number of youths without jobs in 2022 only saw a dip in the second quarter of last year.
The sharp increase in unemployment rate of females between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 has culminated in a wider unemployment gender gap in 2023 relative to 2022.
About 440,000 persons joined the labour force between 2023 Q1 and 2023 Q3, of which more than 60.0 percent were employed during the period.
Consistently, more females than males have been employed, with the difference averaging about 600,000 and 900,000 for 2022 and 2023 respectively.
The number of employed persons in urban areas remained nearly the same in the first three quarters of 2023 after quarterly variations in 2022.
The number of employed persons in rural areas increased for five consecutive quarters from 2022 Q2, before declining in the third quarter of 2023.
Some Ghanaian youths in an interview with Ahotor news expressed concerns about the challenges of finding employment after graduation.
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Story by: Osei Akoto(Teacher Kojo) #Ahotoronline.com
