Female labor force participation rate in Ghana 2010-2023

In 2023, the labor force participation rate for women in Ghana reached 65.3 percent, a slight decrease from the previous year. Between 2010 and 2016, the rate steadily decreased, while from 2016 onwards, slight general increases were registered. 

Men are in the lead in labor force

Among the male population, the labor participation rate stood at around 72.5 percent as of 2023. The labor force in Ghana was slightly higher among men compared to women, as the latter represented 47 percent of the total. Overall, the majority of the workforce, over 12.1 million people, were aged 25 years and older as of 2023.

Overall employment situation

Ghana has a population of over 30 million, with an estimated median age of 20.2 years as of 2020. In 2023, around 14.3 million people were employed in the country, a rise compared to previous years. Furthermore, the services sector is a leading sector in employment, followed by agriculture and industries. In 2022, more than 41 percent of the total employment in Ghana was in the services sector, while close to 40 percent was in the industry sector. Also, in terms of employment in agriculture, most of the employees were men.