Ghana's youth unemployment crisis could spark a caregiving jobs boom

Ghana's ageing population and high youth unemployment are creating a new opportunity for job growth. Experts suggest that training young people as professional caregivers could address both challenges at once. With more elderly living alone in rural areas, the demand for specialised care is rising fast.

By the end of 2024, Ghana's unemployment rate stood at 13.6%, dropping slightly to 12.8% a year later. Many graduates still struggle to find stable work, while the country's elderly—especially in rural communities—often live without proper support. Professor Charles Ackah, a Principal Investigator at ISSER, has highlighted the untapped potential of a 'care economy' to generate mass employment.

Formalising the caregiving sector could turn this into a professional industry. A structured training system for geriatric care would create a new class of skilled workers, filling a gap in Ghana's social protection framework. Unlike childcare and maternity leave, elder care remains largely unaddressed, despite increasing life expectancy.

To make this work, the government would need to introduce a national policy, a standardised training curriculum, and a funding model. Without these, the sector's growth—and its ability to provide sustainable jobs—will remain limited.

A professionalised care industry could improve life for Ghana's elderly while offering long-term employment to young people. The success of this shift depends on policy changes and investment in training. If implemented, it may ease two of the country's most pressing challenges: an ageing population and youth unemployment.