The Ghana Statistical Service’s 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES) report reveals a concerning trend among Ghana’s youth, with over 2 million individuals aged 15-35 not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET).
The survey highlights a gender disparity, with females making up the majority (1.2 million) compared to males (715,691).
The Greater Accra Region has the highest concentration of NEET youth, with 565,360 individuals, followed by the Northeast Region. Urban areas have a higher NEET rate (20.6%) compared to rural areas (15.0%).
However, there is a silver lining, as the NEET rate has decreased significantly from 24.1% in Q3 2022 to 18.2% in Q3 2023, representing a 5.9 percentage point drop.
Despite a regional variation in NEET rates, with an increase in Greater Accra, the overall number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) has significantly decreased by almost half a million (462,998) between Q3 2022 and Q3 2023.
This progress underscores the importance of targeted interventions to address the persistent disparities in education, employment, and training opportunities for young people in Ghana.
The 2024 World Youth Skills Day, themed “Youth Skills for Peace and Development”, emphasizes the need for continued efforts to ensure that all youth have access to the skills and resources necessary for their development and contribution to peace and prosperity.
