This study aimed to analyse the current state of youth unemployment in the Ashanti region, identify key contributing factors, and propose inclusive career development strategies to enhance employability. The study employed a qualitative case study design with face-to-face interviews to gather comprehensive data from a purposive sample of 15 participants aged 18–35, including those about to complete school, unemployed, underemployed, and engaged in vocational training programmes. The study was grounded in the human capital theory, which suggests that investments in education and training enhance individuals’ skills, productivity, and employability. Participants attributed unemployment to educational barriers, limited access to quality education, skill gaps between education and job market needs, economic challenges, lack of job opportunities, poor infrastructure and resources for businesses, societal expectations limiting career options, gender and regional disparities, personal limitations, lack of career awareness or motivation, and inadequate networking opportunities. Inclusive strategies suggested to improve youth employability include educational reforms, enhanced vocational and technical training, policy and institutional support, government and NGO collaboration for youth initiatives, incentives for businesses to hire young workers, targeted programmes for disadvantaged groups, and mentorship and peer-support initiatives. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
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