Economic exclusion and criminal adaptations: A qualitative study of youth unemployment in Ghana

Abstract

Youth unemployment in Ghana remains a persistent socioeconomic challenge and is frequently linked to rising criminal behaviour; however, existing research provides limited understanding of how young people themselves perceive the structural, psychological, and systemic mechanisms that connect unemployment to criminal adaptation. This study addresses this gap by examining the sociological pathways through which systemic unemployment and inequality shape youth involvement in both adaptive and illicit survival strategies. Guided by Social Disorganization, Frustration-Aggression, and Structural Violence theories, the study employed a qualitative exploratory design and conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 employed and unemployed youths in the Greater Accra Region. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Findings reveal that youth attribute their economic exclusion to structural barriers such as nepotism, political favouritism, and a persistent mismatch between educational training and labour market demands. Prolonged unemployment was also found to produce intense frustration, leading some respondents to internalise distress while others turned to cyber fraud, drug trafficking, and related illicit economies as perceived rational responses to systemic injustice. Additionally, participants described how disparities in law enforcement and public-sector recruitment normalize structural violence, weaken institutional trust, and legitimise engagement in criminal pathways. The study concludes that criminal tendencies among unemployed youth often emerge as context-driven responses to structural failures rather than solely individual choices. Addressing these dynamics requires policy interventions that extend beyond job creation to include transparent and merit-based recruitment systems, reforms to reduce structural inequality, and educational curricula that better align with contemporary labour market needs.