2025 QUARTERLY LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (Q1-Q3)
Ghana
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Reference ID
DDI-GHA-GSS-QLFS-2025Q1-Q3-v1.1
Producer(s)
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)
Metadata
Created on
Aug 18, 2026
Last modified
Aug 18, 2026
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Identification
Survey ID Number
DDI-GHA-GSS-QLFS-2025Q1-Q3-v1.1
Title
2025 QUARTERLY LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (Q1-Q3)
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Ghana | GH |
Abstract
Work remains central to economic stability, household welfare, and national development in Ghana. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first three quarters of 2025 provide a timely, nationally representative assessment of how people participate in the labour market, the quality of jobs available, and how employment outcomes differ across sex, age groups, regions, and localities. This report supports evidence-based policymaking, business planning, labour dialogue, and public accountability.
The findings in this report are based on the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), a nationally representative household survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service. The survey covered nearly 14,000 households across all 16 regions, in both urban and rural areas, using a stratified multi-stage sampling design. Data were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness.
The survey captures information on employment, unemployment, labour force participation, job quality, skills utilisation, and work arrangements. All data are collected under strict confidentiality provisions and are used solely for statistical purposes.
Key Labour Market Outcomes
Across the first three quarters of 2025, Ghana's labour market showed resilience in employment creation, alongside persistent structural challenges.
In the third quarter of 2025, more than 15 million people participated in the labour force, with approximately 87 percent employed. Employment increased by over 330,000 persons between Quarter 1 and Quarter 3 of 2025, reflecting continued absorption of labour. Female employment consistently exceeded male employment throughout the period. Urban areas recorded higher employment levels than rural areas, while Greater Accra and Ashanti regions accounted for the largest shares of employed persons.
Sectorally, Services remained the largest employer employing 6.0 million people, followed by Agriculture (5.0 million) and Industry (2.5 million). However, the structure of employment raises concerns about sustainability and productivity.
The findings in this report are based on the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), a nationally representative household survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service. The survey covered nearly 14,000 households across all 16 regions, in both urban and rural areas, using a stratified multi-stage sampling design. Data were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness.
The survey captures information on employment, unemployment, labour force participation, job quality, skills utilisation, and work arrangements. All data are collected under strict confidentiality provisions and are used solely for statistical purposes.
Key Labour Market Outcomes
Across the first three quarters of 2025, Ghana's labour market showed resilience in employment creation, alongside persistent structural challenges.
In the third quarter of 2025, more than 15 million people participated in the labour force, with approximately 87 percent employed. Employment increased by over 330,000 persons between Quarter 1 and Quarter 3 of 2025, reflecting continued absorption of labour. Female employment consistently exceeded male employment throughout the period. Urban areas recorded higher employment levels than rural areas, while Greater Accra and Ashanti regions accounted for the largest shares of employed persons.
Sectorally, Services remained the largest employer employing 6.0 million people, followed by Agriculture (5.0 million) and Industry (2.5 million). However, the structure of employment raises concerns about sustainability and productivity.
Unit of Analysis
-Individuals
-Households
-Households
Version
Version Description
1.0
Scope
Keywords
| Keyword |
|---|
| Absorption Rate |
| Contributing Family Worker |
| Dependent Contractors |
| Employed Persons |
| Labour Force (Economically Active Population) |
| Employees |
| Labour |
| Potential labour force |
| Employers |
| Self-Employment |
| Unemployed Persons |
| Unemployment Rate |
| Vulnerable Employment |
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
Nation-wide
Universe
The 2025 QLFS is a nationally representative panel household survey conducted over three quarters. It covered a total of 13,920 households selected from 1,160 Enumeration Areas (EAs), comprising 590 urban (50.9%) and 583 rural (49.1%) areas, ensuring balanced geographic coverage. Data were collected across a wide range of thematic areas, including demographic characteristics, migration, education, health, difficulty in performing activities, nutrition, housing conditions, economic activity, food insecurity, and multidimensional poverty.
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) | Government |
Producers
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana Statistical Service | autonomous | Documentation of the study |
| World Bank | autonomous | Technical assistance |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Abbreviation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| World Bank | World Bank | Technical assistance |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
The sampling frame was based on the 2021 Population and Housing Census (2021PHC). Within each of the 16 administrative regions, urban and rural areas were defined as distinct sampling strata. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used; in the first stage, Primary Sampling Units (PSUs), defined as EAs were selected from each stratum using a probability proportional to size (PPS) approach. In the second stage, Secondary Sampling Units (SSUs), defined as households were systematically selected within each sampled PSU. This design yielded a total sample of 1,160 EAs and 13,920 Households.
The sample was specifically designed to produce regional-level estimates for two primary indicators of interest, with a particular focus on the unemployment rate. To ensure representativeness, the minimum sample size required to estimate each of the two key indicators was calculated. For each region, the larger of the two estimates was used to determine the final sample size, ensuring robust results for both indicators.
The sample was specifically designed to produce regional-level estimates for two primary indicators of interest, with a particular focus on the unemployment rate. To ensure representativeness, the minimum sample size required to estimate each of the two key indicators was calculated. For each region, the larger of the two estimates was used to determine the final sample size, ensuring robust results for both indicators.
Data Collection
Data Collection Mode
Computer Assisted Personal Interview [CAPI]
Metadata production
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana Statistical Service | GSS | autonomous | Author |
| World Bank | World Bank | autonomous | Technical assistance |