A Review of Youth Employment Policies and Their Impact in Ghana

Countries

Ghana is grappling with a notable issue of youth unemployment, as reflected in its youth unemployment rate of 19.7%.

Despite the establishment of various youth employment programs over time, there has not been a thorough documentation and assessment of their effects. Identifying the effective interventions could assist policymakers in formulating targeted strategies and initiatives to tackle the youth employment issue. Our analysis, combining desk reviews with qualitative insights from focus-group discussions and key informant interviews, reveals that many of Ghana’s youth employment programs encompass diverse activities such as skills training, job placement assistance, providing seed capital, and offering subsidies.

PEP is partnering with the Mastercard Foundation for a three-year initiative on “What Works for Youth Employment in Africa.” It aims to provide evidence that can drive policy reform to increase youth employment in ten African countries.