Photo credits: ACET for Africa

On 28 February 2018, the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), which is coordinating the African Policy Dialogues on job creation for youth in Ghana, held a national Policy Dialogue in Accra. The dialogue brought together key stakeholders concerned with addressing employment challenges including policymakers, members of the private sector, academics, development partners, members of youth networks, the media, employers’ associations and trade unions. The half-day dialogue consisted of introductory remarks, plenary and panel discussions, and question and answer sessions. The objective of the dialogue was to discuss sustainable solutions to youth employment challenges. The causes of unemployment and recommendations for job creation discussed at the dialogue are highlighted below.

Causes of unemployment

  • Economic growth in Ghana has been driven by the extractive sector and financial services sector, which have low labour absorption. On the other hand, sectors that have high potential for employment creation such as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism have recorded low growth.
  • There is a mismatch between the skill sets of those joining the labour market and labour market demands. This has resulted in increased unemployment among educated youth.

Recommendations for employment creation

  • The government’s job creation interventions such as ‘One District, One Factory’ and ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ should pay more attention to sectors that have high labour absorption capacity.
  • To address constraints in the agricultural sector, the focus should be on appropriate policies and regulations, rather than merely initiating new programmes.
  • Enhance skills development by ensuring that education and training systems focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and innovation skills to allow job-seekers to adapt to changing labour markets.
  • Invest in the regular collection of employment and labour market data in order to ensure appropriate decisions are made, such as the setting of employment targets and monitoring of progress etc.
  • Mainstream practical apprenticeship programmes and flexible employment policies to support new graduates.
  • Intensify Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academic programmes at the basic level to boost the number of those taking the programmes at the university level.

You can find more on the dialogue held by ACET for Africa and INCLUDE on job creation for youth in the following news report by GH One TV (via Youtube):

A more elaborate report on the ACET and INCLUDE dialogue on youth employment will be published soon. More information on the dialogue can be found on the ACET for Africa website.
Connected themes
Share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related items

Join Us at the UN Future Summit Side Event!

You’re Invited! Join Us at the UN Future Summit Side Event 🌍 Youth in Front:…

Reflections on a Symposium: Decent Jobs for Youth and Women in Nigeria’s Low-Carbon Transition

INCLUDE recently hosted a high-level symposium titled "Decent Jobs for Youth and Women in Nigeria’s Low-Carbon Transition: Insights from Nigeria," which brought together lawmakers including a large array of members of the House committee on renewable energy, climate change and youth among others.  Experts and other key policy stakeholders were also gracing the event to explore the intersection of renewable energy and inclusive job creation.

5 Key insights for greening TVET in the solar industry in Africa

This year INCLUDE joined the Solar Hands-on Training and International Network of Exchange (SHINE). In this EU-funded consortium, we are working together with African VET schools and European partners on greening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for the solar industry in Africa. As the research partner, we are laying the project's theoretical foundation. Through literature review and discussions with experts and practitioners, we have gleaned key insights that are shared in this blog. 

Siri profile picture
Infographic: How to Make Plastic Waste Work for Green & Decent Jobs for Youth in Africa

Plastic waste recycling presents an opportunity to create sustainable jobs while benefiting the environment. But the question remains, how can stakeholders contribute to a conducive waste recycling ecosystem, unlocking its green job potential among Africa’s youth? We are excited to present an infographic showcasing the pathways and recommendations for Green & Decent Jobs for Youth in Africa.

Closing the loop: 3 barriers to decent youth employment in Africa’s waste management sector

This blog is part of a research project on the opportunities for decent work for youth in Africa’s Waste Recycling Sector, in collaboration with the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE). Waste management in Africa is a major challenge for sustainable and inclusive development. Due to poor management, 90% of the waste generated in Africa is disposed of in landfills and uncontrolled dumpsites with severe consequences for the environment and people working in the waste management sector.