Economy, jobs and prices in North East, Ghana: official figures
20.7% of people aged 15 and over in the labour force in the North East Region were unemployed at the 2021 census (32,780 people), 3rd highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 13.4%).
Are women in the North East Region more likely to be unemployed than men?
Unemployment at the 2021 census was 27.9% among women in the North East Region and 14.9% among men (Ghana: 15.5% and 11.6%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people have jobs in the North East Region?
125,524 people aged 15 and over were in work in the North East Region in 2021; 43.8% of all residents in that age group were in the labour force (working or looking for work), 2nd lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 58.1%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do people in the North East Region work in?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing employed 73.1% of working people in the North East Region at the 2021 census, the highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 36.6%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many jobs in the North East Region are informal?
87.9% of employed people in the North East Region worked in the private informal sector in 2021, 3rd highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 77.1%); 7.9% worked for the government (Ghana: 9.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow North East compares with other regions
Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
North East ranks 3 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah | 22.4% |
| 2 | Upper East | 21.1% |
| 3 | North East | 20.7% |
| 4 | Western | 14.6% |
| 5 | Upper West | 14.4% |
| 6 | Northern | 14.3% |
| 7 | Bono | 13.8% |
Share of workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2021 census) (2021)
North East ranks 1 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North East | 73.1% |
| 2 | Savannah | 69.7% |
| 3 | Western North | 66.7% |
| 4 | Oti | 66.6% |
| 5 | Upper West | 58.4% |
| 6 | Northern | 58.2% |
| 7 | Ahafo | 56.3% |
More on North East: 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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