A recent study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed that Ghana, along with Ethiopia and Senegal, is expected to face significant job losses due to heat stress in the coming decades. By 2040, Ghana could lose approximately 550,000 jobs, while Ethiopia may lose around 1.78 million jobs and Senegal around 129,000 jobs. The study attributes these losses to reduced working time caused by heat stress, which is projected to have a substantial impact on the economies of these countries.
The ILO study highlights that the economic and employment consequences of rising heat are already being felt in Ghana and other countries. In 2023, workplace heat stress resulted in significant additional losses of working time and economic output compared to the historical baseline. The sectors most exposed to heat stress include agriculture and construction, which involve physical work and high levels of outdoor employment. However, the impact extends beyond these sectors, affecting manufacturing, transport, trade, and services, as well as workers and enterprises in the informal economy.
According to the study, Ghana experienced the loss of more than 345,000 additional full-time jobs in 2023 due to workplace heat stress, with agriculture accounting for around two-thirds of these losses. The ILO projects that by 2040, the equivalent of around 550,000 full-time jobs could be lost in Ghana under a low-emissions pathway. The study also notes that the scale and distribution of the impact vary considerably between the three countries, with Ethiopia facing the most significant losses.
Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa, ILO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized that heat stress is not only an environmental issue but also a jobs, health, and economic issue. She stressed that governments, employers, and workers need to act together to address this challenge, combining stronger occupational safety and health measures with social protection, climate adaptation, and economic planning. Protecting people from heat means protecting livelihoods, enterprises, and the resilience of economies.
The ILO study identifies practical measures that can reduce the impact of rising heat, including adjusting working hours, introducing work-rest cycles, providing shade and cooling facilities, and strengthening workplace heat monitoring and occupational safety and health standards. The study also highlights the importance of social protection, particularly for workers in the informal economy who may be unable to reduce their working hours without losing essential income.
The research on Ghana, Ethiopia, and Senegal is part of a six-country initiative that also covers Lebanon, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The studies were commissioned by the ILO with support from the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable 20 Finance Ministers, with funding provided through the CVF-V20 Joint Multi-Donor Fund. The research combines climate projections, labor market data, and economic modeling to assess the current and future effects of workplace heat stress on productivity, employment, and national economies.
The projected job losses and economic impacts of heat stress in Ghana and other countries underscore the need for urgent action to address this challenge. The ILO study provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of heat stress on employment and economies, highlighting the importance of cooperation and collective action to mitigate these impacts. By implementing practical measures and strengthening occupational safety and health standards, Ghana and other countries can reduce the impact of rising heat and protect the livelihoods of their citizens.
Key points
- Ghana could lose approximately 550,000 jobs due to heat stress by 2040.
- The ILO study projects that combined annual GDP losses in Ghana could reach US$23.2 billion by 2040.
- The study emphasizes the need for governments, employers, and workers to act together to address the challenge of heat stress.
