Economy, jobs and prices in Central, Ghana: official figures
13.3% of people aged 15 and over in the labour force in the Central Region were unemployed at the 2021 census (145,281 people), 8th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 13.4%).
Are women in the Central Region more likely to be unemployed than men?
Unemployment at the 2021 census was 14.7% among women in the Central Region and 11.9% among men (Ghana: 15.5% and 11.6%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people have jobs in the Central Region?
949,994 people aged 15 and over were in work in the Central Region in 2021; 59.2% of all residents in that age group were in the labour force (working or looking for work), 8th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 58.1%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do people in the Central Region work in?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing employed 30.5% of working people in the Central Region at the 2021 census, 3rd lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 36.6%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many jobs in the Central Region are informal?
80.2% of employed people in the Central Region worked in the private informal sector in 2021, 8th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 77.1%); 8.9% worked for the government (Ghana: 9.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow Central compares with other regions
Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
Central ranks 9 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Northern | 14.3% |
| 7 | Bono | 13.8% |
| 8 | Volta | 13.8% |
| 9 | Central | 13.3% |
| 10 | Ashanti | 13.1% |
| 11 | Western North | 13.1% |
| 12 | Greater Accra | 12.9% |
Share of workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2021 census) (2021)
Central ranks 14 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Upper East | 45.9% |
| 11 | Eastern | 35.8% |
| 12 | Western | 35.4% |
| 13 | Volta | 33.2% |
| 14 | Central | 30.5% |
| 15 | Ashanti | 26.5% |
| 16 | Greater Accra | 7.3% |
More on Central: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Ghana
Sources
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3E district tables: Economic Activity (tables 3E.1a, 3E.11a and 3E.19a), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b4275bf6f3dc…)
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