Ghana Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Ghana's labor force participation was 58.52% in 2025, ranked 113th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Ghana's labor force participation stood at 58.52% in 2025, a decline of +0.53pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 58.09% by 2026. Ghana ranked 113th globally.
Ghana’s labor‑force participation rate has fallen from an all‑time peak of 73.07 % in 1990 to a trough of 58.52 % in 2025, placing the country at 113th globally out of more than 200 economies. The 36‑year decline reflects a combination of demographic shifts, urban migration and the growing informal sector, which together have reduced the share of the working‑age population engaged in paid employment. By contrast, Mauritius records a slightly higher participation rate of 58.55 % and Poland 58.31 %, illustrating that Ghana now lags behind both a regional peer and a more diversified European economy despite similar levels of development. The persistent downward trajectory suggests that without targeted policies to improve job creation, vocational training and formal sector integration, Ghana’s participation rate is likely to remain near the current trough, limiting potential gains in productivity and inclusive growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 57.34% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 57.72% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 58.09% | - | - |
| 2025 | 58.52% | −0.53pp | #113 |
| 2024 | 59.06% | −0.01pp | #109 |
| 2023 | 59.07% | −0.03pp | #112 |
| 2022 | 59.10% | −1.29pp | #111 |
| 2021 | 60.39% | −1.23pp | #95 |
| 2020 | 61.62% | −2.10pp | #78 |
| 2019 | 63.71% | −1.57pp | #72 |
| 2018 | 65.28% | −1.57pp | #63 |
| 2017 | 66.86% | −1.21pp | #45 |
| 2016 | 68.07% | −1.19pp | #41 |
| 2015 | 69.25% | −1.21pp | #37 |
| 2014 | 70.47% | −1.19pp | #31 |
| 2013 | 71.65% | −0.06pp | #26 |
| 2012 | 71.72% | −0.06pp | #27 |
| 2011 | 71.78% | −0.06pp | #28 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ghana matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ghana's labor force participation was 58.52% in 2025. Ranked 113th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Ghana's labor force participation peaked at 73.07% in 1990.
The lowest labor force participation in Ghana was 58.52% in 2025.
Ghana ranks 113th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ghana's labor force participation is projected to reach 58.09% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Ghana in 2025 was 58.52%. This ranks 113th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ghana_labor-force-participation,
title = {Ghana Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ghana/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}