Speaking at a press conference in Accra to release the July 2025 edition of the Quarterly Labour Statistics, Dr. Iddrisu disclosed that Ghana’s unemployment rate declined marginally to 13.6 percent in 2024 from 14.6 percent in 2023.

While the number of employed persons increased by over one million within the period, he cautioned that many of the new jobs are still vulnerable.

“Employment is growing, but too many jobs remain informal and insecure. Youth unemployment and NEET levels are alarmingly high, keeping millions out of both work and education,” he stated.

Dr. Iddrisu recommended a series of policy actions to sustain the gains and avert further labour market distress.

He urged government to “scale up apprenticeships, graduate employment schemes, and job placement services” while pursuing reforms to “expand TVET to match training with demand, especially in digital, industrial, and green economy sectors.”

He also emphasized the importance of financial support for small businesses, insisting that “providing affordable credit to small businesses will boost job creation, especially for women and youth.”

Turning to the role of businesses, the Government Statistician called on the private sector to play a more active role in employment creation.

“The private sector must offer structured internships and entry-level roles for young people. Partnering with universities and training institutions to align education with workplace needs is critical if we are to prepare a competitive workforce,” he said.

He further urged development partners to align their interventions with Ghana’s national employment priorities, stressing that “channeling resources into rural job creation will help reduce regional imbalances and maximize impact.”

Dr. Iddrisu concluded that while progress has been made, entrenched long-term unemployment and widening regional gaps remain pressing concerns.

“The labour market continues to show growth, but these challenges require deliberate and coordinated interventions,” he noted.