John Dramani Mahama has revealed that more than one million young Ghanaians found stable jobs within the first half of 2025, marking a significant shift in the country’s employment landscape.
Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address before Parliament on Friday, February 27, the President described the development as a clear sign that targeted economic policies are beginning to ease youth unemployment pressures nationwide.
According to figures previously released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the country’s labour market saw notable expansion last year. In a report issued on December 19, 2025, the agency indicated that employment levels rose by approximately 333,000 between the first and third quarters of 2025.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu noted in the report that Ghana’s labour force surpassed 15 million people during the first three quarters of the year. Over that period, the employment rate consistently hovered around 87 percent, reflecting steady absorption of workers into various sectors of the economy.
Addressing lawmakers, President Mahama attributed the gains to deliberate interventions aimed at stimulating production and enterprise. He highlighted investments in agriculture, major infrastructure projects, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as central pillars driving job creation.
“These results show that our economic recovery strategy is delivering real opportunities for our young people,” the President stated, adding that improved access to financing and expanded industrial initiatives have played a critical role.
While welcoming the progress, he emphasized that the administration will intensify efforts to create even more opportunities. Plans include deeper collaboration with private sector partners and sustained funding for youth-focused programmes to ensure long-term employment growth.
The announcement has sparked optimism among industry observers, who see the upward employment trend as a potential catalyst for broader economic stability and household income growth across the country.
