Ghana faces rising structural unemployment over skills mismatch – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that Ghana is grappling with increasing structural unemployment because industries are unable to find the technicians they require.

He said universities continue to churn out graduates in disciplines that do not align with the demands of the job market. President Mahama made the remarks on Saturday, December 6, while speaking at a panel session during the Doha Forum on Economic Empowerment in Africa: Pathway to Inclusive Prosperity.

The session also featured the UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner; Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, Khalifa Jassim Al Kuwari; and former Tanzanian President and Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, Jakaya Kikwete.

According to Mr Mahama, employers across the country are increasingly seeking middle-level technicians rather than individuals with advanced academic qualifications. He noted that industry leaders consistently express a greater need for practical technical skills than for purely academic credentials.

He explained that Ghana is not training enough technicians to meet labour market needs, even as more graduates are produced in business administration, marketing, and the humanities. This, he said, accounts for the paradox of existing vacancies that remain unfilled.

President Mahama described the situation as structural unemployment, where available jobs do not match the skills of jobseekers.

In response, he highlighted the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), launched in April, which provides hands-on training in areas such as carpentry, plumbing, auto mechanics, agro-processing, tailoring, and electrical work. The programme currently targets 10,000 apprentices across all 261 districts, with plans to expand to 100,000 annually, while reserving slots for women and persons with disabilities.

He further stressed the importance of preparing young people for the digital economy, citing projections that Africa will have about 230 million digital jobs by 2030. Mr Mahama said equipping the youth with relevant digital skills is critical for them to take advantage of these opportunities.

He warned that young people without employable skills remain vulnerable to recruitment by criminal and extremist networks, underscoring the broader social risks of unemployment.

President Mahama concluded that Ghana must strengthen technical, vocational, and digital training to ensure young people are prepared for available jobs and empowered to build sustainable livelihoods.