World Bank Warns Ghana’s Growth Not Creating Enough Quality Jobs
Ghana’s economy has been expanding, but the World Bank warns that many citizens are not feeling the benefits where it matters most in their jobs and incomes. In its latest Ghana Economic Update, the Bank describes much of the workforce as “running on a treadmill,” shifting between roles without real improvements in earnings or job security.
Data from the report shows that between 2012 and 2023, the country added about 720,000 jobs in the industry and services sectors, yet agriculture traditionally a major employer lost roughly 470,000 positions. Over the same period, urban centres took in an additional 2.4 million working-age people, but average real wages still dropped by 3%. Job creation has not kept pace with the growing population, youth participation in the labour force is falling, and an estimated one million young Ghanaians have moved abroad in search of opportunities.
Sectors that typically drive upward mobility, such as manufacturing, construction, and domestic services, remain among the slowest growing. At the same time, the value of education as a pathway to higher income is weakening, as the number of graduates is rising faster than the availability of quality jobs.
The report also highlights persistent gender inequality in the labour market. Women continue to be concentrated in low-productivity roles and face significant gaps in both pay and opportunities compared to men.
Looking ahead, Ghana’s working-age population is projected to grow by about 4.8 million over the next decade, reaching 25.3 million. The World Bank says this growth could be a major advantage if matched with bold reforms aimed at attracting private investment, boosting productivity, and creating stronger links between education and employment.
Without such action, it cautions, many Ghanaians risk remaining in a cycle where they are “working hard but going nowhere,” unable to fully benefit from the country’s economic progress.
