The 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey reveals that more than 1.1 million children aged five to 17 years engaged in various forms of work in the fourth quarter of 2023, comprising approximately 10.3% of children within this age group.
Of these children, about 893,000 are involved in employment, predominantly in paid positions, according to the Ghana Statistical Service’s statement issued on June 3 to commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour.
The annual observance, held on June 12th, focuses this year on the theme “Let’s Act on Our Commitments: End Child Labour,” urging concerted global efforts to eliminate child labour and uphold children’s rights.
The statement highlights that a majority of the children engaged in work are male (56%), with nearly half a million (458,443) not currently attending school.
This includes 68,500 who have never attended school and 389,943 who previously attended.
“More of the children who are involved in different forms of work are males (56%). Almost half a million (458,443) of these working children are not attending school comprising 68,500 who have never attended school and 389,943 who attended school in the past.”
“Urban areas account for over a quarter (309,199:28%) of working children, while rural areas have a significantly higher proportion, with almost three-quarters (795,175;72%),” it stated.
Urban areas account for 28% (309,199) of working children, while rural areas host a larger share at 72% (795,175). Regionally, Ashanti leads with 13.6% of children involved in work, followed by Bono East (12.1%) and Northern (11.8%).
“The Ahafo Region (0.8%), Greater Accra (1.6%) and Western North (1.8) have the lowest percentages of working children. A breakdown of the forms of work reveals that 35.4 percent of children worked as family help, followed by farmwork (31.2%), unpaid trainees (11.7%), and own use production (7.3%).”
“Also, 6.2 percent of children were engaged in non-farm work, 5.3 percent in wage work and 2.9 percent involved in domestic, non-productive agriculture, voluntary work or apprentice work,” it stated.
In terms of types of work, family assistance tops at 35.4%, followed by farm work (31.2%), unpaid apprenticeships (11.7%), and own-use production (7.3%).
“Service and sales workers (1.7%), Plant and machine operators, and assemblers (0.2%) and Manager (0.1%) account for the least working children. The services sector employs nine in 10 (91.7%) of the working children, while agriculture and industry engage 4.8 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively,” it added.
Non-farm work engages 6.2% of children, while wage work involves 5.3%, and domestic, non-productive, agricultural, voluntary, or apprentice work covers 2.9%.
Regarding occupations, elementary roles dominate at 60.4%, followed by craft and trade-related work (19.8%) and skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishing activities (17.7%). The services sector employs the majority (91.7%) of working children, with agriculture and industry accounting for 4.8% and 3.6%, respectively.
Furthermore, 80.4% of working children contribute to family work, spanning agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
Unpaid apprenticeship is the next common employment status at 11.7%, while 1.9% are self-employed, 0.5% are paid employees, and 4.9% fall under other employment categories.
“The second most common employment status for children is unpaid apprenticeship, which constitutes 11.7 percent. Additionally, 1.9 percent of working children are self-employed, 0.5 percent are paid employees and 4.9 percent of working children fall under other employment categories,” it added.