Unemployment Duration, Migration Intention, and Social Participation: Evidence from Selected Regions in Ghana

Abstract

This study examines unemployment duration, migration intention, and social participation, with evidence from four administrative regions in Ghana. It employs primary data and semi-parametric Cox regression and probit models for the analyses. The study concludes that age, locality, social network, alternative income sources, migration status, and education are significant factors influencing unemployment duration in Ghana. Also, migration and education are jointly associated with shorter unemployment duration. The study further concludes that unemployment duration has an insignificant positive effect on intentions to migrate, but it significantly increases migration intentions for both sexes. Lastly, unemployment duration has a negative effect on social participation, particularly in rural areas. The study encourages young people to take up voluntary services and other forms of industry attachments to build labour market experience. Again, the government should develop and implement a policy on industrial attachment and internship programmes for tertiary students. Individuals should build and effectively utilise their social networks. Individuals who receive financial support while unemployed should leverage such income to intensify their job search efforts and activities. Moreover, individuals should take advantage of the opportunities created in the educational sector to upgrade their educational levels. The study further encourages job seekers with higher education to migrate as part of their job search efforts ad activities. Lastly, the government should take steps to build more economic and social infrastructure, especially in rural areas.