The government must develop a comprehensive strategy on job creation, structural transforma­tion and skills development in or­der to harness the benefits of the increasing working-age population for economic growth, the World Bank has said.According to the World Bank, the country's demographic dividend presented opportunities if the expanding labour force was absorbed into productive employment.The Bank made the call in its latest Ninth Ghana Economic Update (GEU) titled "Address­ing labour market challenges and opportunities in Ghana's economic landscape."The GEU, an annual publication by the World Bank Group, aims to inform public discourse on economic issues and policy trade-offs, facilitating dialogue among stakeholders to build consensus for necessary reforms to enhance macroeconomic management and promote sustainable, inclusive growth.Speaking at the launch in Accra yesterday, the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Western and Central Africa Re­gion, Robert Taliercio, said that despite strong economic growth, job creation had not kept pace with the rapidly growing workforce.He said between 2012 and 2023, the work­ing-age population increased by 2.7 million but net employment rose by only 250,000.Mr Taliercio said the report identified five key labour market challenges: insufficient job creation for a growing workforce weak labour demand in productive sectors, with limited job creation in high-productivity industries like manufacturing and services; mismatch between education and job opportunities, with average earnings declining as better-educated workers fail to find high-qual­ity jobs; high job mobility but limited upward progression; and persistent disparities for women and youth in accessing employment."The World Bank Group is adopting a co­ordinated, institution-wide strategy to address the jobs challenge, making employment a core priority," Mr Taliercio stressed, noting that the ap­proach was championed by the Bank's President, Ajay Banga.He called for an integrated strategy prioritis­ing job creation, economic transformation and skills development, including investing in human and physical capital such as nutrition, healthcare, education, and infrastructure in water, transportation and energy.Mr Taliercio stressed the need for a stable regulatory environment to support private-sec­tor-led growth and mobilisation of private capital to unlock high-potential sectors.The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, in his remarks commended the World Bank for the GEU, describing it as "a mission laid out not only for government, but for every stakeholder."Quoting United Nations projections, he said Ghana's population was expected to reach 45 million by 2040, with 58 per cent under the age of 30.That, he said meant about 10 million Ghana­ians would enter the labour force by 2040."The current pace of job creation is far below what is needed.Addressing labour market challenges and creat­ing jobs must therefore become the first order of priority," Mr Nyarko stated.He said since January 2025, government had focused on restoring macroeconomic stability and strengthening key job-creation sectors, including finance and energy.The Deputy Finance Minister said the govern­ment was committed to addressing the growing unemployment challenge facing the country.He said the government had outlined a number of programmes to create decent jobs for youth and mentioned some of the initiatives as the National Apprenticeship Programme and the Adwumawura initiative, both designed to build a skilled workforce.Mr Nyarko disclosed that the government was investing GH¢564 million in those interventions in 2025, alongside GH¢410 million through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme."Other flagship initiatives such as the 'Big Push' for infrastructure, 'Agriculture for Econom­ic Transformation,' and the 24-Hour Technology Programme are expected to further drive job creation," the Deputy Minister stated.Mr Nyarko said the 2026 Budget would also focus heavily on jobs and would incorporate relevant recommendations from the GEU.He assured the World Bank that its publication would receive "updated attention" from govern­ment, adding that beyond the public sector, other stakeholders could also benefit from the insights."The findings and recommendations of the GEU will undoubtedly contribute to our ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana's economy, promote sustainable growth, and improve the lives of our citizens," Mr Nyarko said.He expressed gratitude to the World Bank for the report, stating that government remained committed to working with development partners to create decent, dignified jobs and harness the country's demographic dividend for shared prosperity. BY KINGSLEY ASARE