Government Plans Domestic Care Economy Programme to Create Nearly 100,000 Youth Jobs

The government is set to launch a domestic care economy programme next year, with the initiative expected to employ close to 100,000 young people.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, as part of government’s broader efforts to address youth unemployment and expand access to decent and sustainable employment opportunities.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) event in Accra on Thursday, August 13, Mr Opare-Addo said the government remained committed to reducing unemployment by the end of President John Dramani Mahama’s four-year term.

The Minister acknowledged that youth unemployment has recorded a slight increase but attributed part of the challenge to Ghana’s growing youth population and the increasing number of young people entering the labour market.

According to him, government is implementing several youth-focused interventions aimed at expanding employment opportunities across the country.

“Next year, under the YEA, we’ll be launching the domestic care economy, and that alone is supposed to employ close to 100,000 young people. Clearly, clearly, we will reduce the unemployment rate,” he said.

Programme to Form Part of Wider Youth Employment Efforts

Mr Opare-Addo expressed confidence that the planned intervention, together with other programmes being implemented through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), would contribute significantly to reducing unemployment among young people.

He said government’s approach goes beyond simply creating jobs, with an emphasis on ensuring that young people have access to decent and sustainable employment.

The announcement comes amid continued national discussions around youth unemployment and the need to create more opportunities for young people entering Ghana’s workforce.

What We Know So Far

The domestic care economy programme is currently a planned government intervention expected to launch next year. The Minister has indicated that it is expected to employ close to 100,000 young people.

However, details regarding the programme’s specific job categories, eligibility requirements, remuneration, recruitment process and application dates have not yet been announced.

Young people should therefore be cautious of unofficial announcements or individuals claiming to be recruiting for the programme before the government or YEA publishes official application information.

As further details become available, the programme could become a significant employment opportunity for young Ghanaians, particularly given the projected scale of the initiative.

The Bigger Youth Employment Challenge

Youth unemployment remains an important issue in Ghana, with young people continuing to seek opportunities to gain work experience, build sustainable careers and participate meaningfully in the economy.

The proposed domestic care economy programme is one of several interventions government says it is pursuing to expand employment opportunities.

Its eventual impact, however, will depend on how the programme is implemented and whether the projected employment opportunities translate into decent and sustainable work for young people.