Nearly 2 Million Ghanaian Youth Not In Employment, Education Or Training – GSS

Nearly two million young people in Ghana between the ages of 15 and 35 were not working, attending school or undergoing any form of training in the third quarter of 2025, figures from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) have revealed.

The data, contained in the Service’s Ghana in Numbers 2025 report, showed that young women made up more than 60 per cent of the affected population, raising concerns about their participation in employment and educational opportunities.

According to the report, Ghana recorded an average rate of 17.9 per cent of young people classified as not in employment, education or training (NEET) over the first three quarters of 2025.

Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, expressed concern over the number of young people in this category, particularly the disproportionate share of young women.

“Close to two million young people are neither working nor in education or training, what we refer to as the NEET group, and more than six in ten of them are young women,” he said.

A regional breakdown of the figures showed that the Central Region had the highest NEET rate, recording 25.3 per cent.

The report also indicated a difference between urban and rural communities, with urban areas recording a rate of 20.6 per cent, compared with 18 per cent in rural areas.

The figures come at a time when Ghana’s youth population is estimated at about 12 million in 2025, representing roughly one-third of the country’s total population.

The GSS explained that the NEET category covers more than young people who are unemployed. It also includes those who are not engaged in any form of work and are not participating in education or skills training.

The Service said it would continue to track indicators such as youth unemployment, informal employment and NEET rates in future editions of Ghana in Numbers.

It added that the reports would also examine how education connects with opportunities in the labour market to provide information that can guide policy decisions.