Ghana’s unemployment rate falls to 12.8% as poverty declines

Ghana’s unemployment rate declined from 13.7% in the first three quarters of 2024 to 12.8% over the same period in 2025, reflecting an improvement in labour market conditions, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced.

The reduction indicates that more Ghanaians gained access to employment opportunities during the period, although concerns remain about the availability of sustainable and well‑paying jobs.

Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review in Parliament on July 23, 2026, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson reported a decline in multidimensional poverty, which fell from 24.9% in Q3 2024 to 21.9% in Q3 2025.

Multidimensional poverty measures deprivation beyond income, including access to education, healthcare, housing, and basic services.

“Unemployment declined from 13.7 percent during the first three quarters of 2024 to 12.8 percent over the same period in 2025. Multidimensional poverty declined from 24.9 percent in Q3 of 2024 to 21.9 percent in Q3 of 2025,” Dr Forson stated.

The Finance Minister said the figures demonstrate the impact of government policies aimed at restoring economic stability and improving the livelihoods of Ghanaians.

The government has identified job creation, economic expansion, and poverty reduction as key priorities in its efforts to improve living conditions and strengthen economic resilience.



DR/SA