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Youth Unemployment In Ghana Essay

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THE ROLE OF THE INFORMAL ECONOMY IN ALLEVIATING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN GHANA: THE CASE OF THE INFORMAL SERVICE ECONOMY IN KUMASI
Background of the Study
90 percent of over 1.2 billion youth across the world, aged, 15 to 29 live in developing countries. Out of this, 14 percent are estimated to be within sub-Saharan AfricaInvalid source specified.. In Ghana, the youth, which is defined as all persons between the ages of 15-35 years, number over 6 million, which translates to 20 percent of the entire population of the country Invalid source specified.. Ghana’s definition contrasts that of the International Labour Organization’s definition of the youth which includes all persons between the ages of 15 to 24 (ILO, 2012). There are reasons for the …show more content…

In Ghana, 80% of the workforce is employed in the informal sector. Invalid source specified.. This has been due to its prospect for self-employment; has easy entry and exit and less capital to establish and sustaining businesses in the sector. In spite of its advantages, it is characterized by several negatives which create a propensity to discourage the youth from exploring the sector. These over the years have included high income insecurity, underemployment, bad working conditions, uncertain work relationships and low wages, among othersInvalid source specified..
The central idea behind the study therefore, is to understand the extent to which the informal sector have alleviated youth unemployment in Ghana, by assessing the rate of their involvement, its effect on youth income and poverty, as well as the prospects that exists within the sector for further employment and improvement of the standard of living for the youth.
Problem …show more content…

Despite the critical challenges the informal sector poses to the economy of Ghana, it has a resilient and expansive nature, having a higher prospect for self-employment, and can be a profound arsenal to eradicate youth unemployment. This study therefore assesses the extent to which the informal economy has contributed to alleviating youth unemployment in Ghana. It also identifies opportunities for development within the informal sector towards job creation and security among the youth.
Research Objectives
The objectives of this study are as follows:
To understand the dimensions, causes and effects of youth unemployment in Ghana
To understand the prospects and risks of the informal economy on the young worker
To recognize the different ways by which the informal economy has contributed to reducing youth unemployment
To identify the prospects for development of the informal economy for the further alleviation of youth unemployment
Research Questions
What are the causes, effects and implications of unemployment to the

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