The Ghana Career and Migration Fair 2025 (GCMF25) has officially launched under the theme: “The Future of Work.” Now in its eighth edition, the Fair is a flagship initiative of the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development, implemented by GIZ Ghana and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment.

The event comes at a crucial time, as Ghana grapples with a youth unemployment rate of 27.2% (Ghana Statistical Service, 2023), in a global landscape where more than 73 million young people remain unemployed (ILO, 2023). GCMF25 aims to bridge this gap by providing young Ghanaians with access to skills development, ethical labour mobility opportunities, and entrepreneurial pathways.

Speaking at the launch, Kwaku Yeboah, Component Manager at the Ghanaian-European Centre, noted: “This Fair is not just about jobs. It’s about access to the right skills, to the right support systems, and to opportunities across borders. It is about preparing Ghanaian youth to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.”

GCMF25 will focus on four core thematic areas that are reshaping the global workforce:

• Digital Transformation – including artificial intelligence, automation, digital skills, and remote work.

• Skilled Labour Mobility and Ethical Migration – promoting safe, structured, and fair migration pathways to jobs abroad.

• Entrepreneurship and Startups – empowering youth to create innovative solutions, generate employment, and scale their ventures.

• Green Jobs and the Sustainable Economy – aligning youth skills with climate-smart sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management.

“The theme for this year’s edition, the future of work, could not be more relevant. Whether it’s the rise of AI and automation, the need for climate-resilient jobs, or the shift to remote and digital work, the labour market is evolving fast. And so must our response, said Chantel Kristin Bredua Lahmer, Policy Advisor at the German Embassy.

The fair will feature panel discussions, a job and career expo, an entrepreneurship pitching session, and interactive breakout workshops led by both local and international experts. Participants will include government officials from Ghana and Europe, development agencies, private sector employers, financial institutions, training institutions, and young jobseekers, returned migrants, and entrepreneurs.

“Government has committed to creating over two million dignified jobs by 2028 and considering that every year, 300,000 vibrant young Ghanaians enter the labour market, it is very prudent to provide this enabling environment that bridges a concentrated pool of job seekers with an unparalleled access to diverse range of employers from various sectors to seamlessly interact,” said Hamidu Adakurugu, Chief Director at the Ministry Of Labour, Jobs and Employment.

By creating a dynamic platform that brings together recruiters, educators, development partners, and young people, GCMF25 contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s national employment strategy. The Fair facilitates dialogue and partnerships that are essential for building a future-ready workforce. It also supports the broader global call including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth) to invest in youth as key drivers of sustainable development. By fostering linkages between training and job opportunities, both locally and internationally, the Fair empowers Ghanaian youth to actively shape their careers and contribute to inclusive economic transformation.