Economy, jobs and prices in Upper East, Ghana: official figures
21.1% of people aged 15 and over in the labour force in the Upper East Region were unemployed at the 2021 census (71,891 people), 2nd highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 13.4%).
Are women in the Upper East Region more likely to be unemployed than men?
Unemployment at the 2021 census was 23.9% among women in the Upper East Region and 18.4% among men (Ghana: 15.5% and 11.6%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people have jobs in the Upper East Region?
268,349 people aged 15 and over were in work in the Upper East Region in 2021; 42.0% of all residents in that age group were in the labour force (working or looking for work), the lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 58.1%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do people in the Upper East Region work in?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing employed 45.9% of working people in the Upper East Region at the 2021 census, 7th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 36.6%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many jobs in the Upper East Region are informal?
78.8% of employed people in the Upper East Region worked in the private informal sector in 2021, 5th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 77.1%); 13.7% worked for the government (Ghana: 9.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow Upper East compares with other regions
Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
Upper East ranks 2 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)
Upper East ranks 10 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ahafo | 56.3% |
| 8 | Bono East | 54.1% |
| 9 | Bono | 47.4% |
| 10 | Upper East | 45.9% |
| 11 | Eastern | 35.8% |
| 12 | Western | 35.4% |
| 13 | Volta | 33.2% |
More on Upper 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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