Ghana could lose 550,000 jobs to heat stress by 2040, according to new studies by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Rising temperatures and workplace heat stress could cost Ethiopia, Ghana and Senegal the equivalent of approximately 2.46 million full-time jobs and around US$67 billion in combined annual GDP losses by 2040. The research reveals that the economic and employment consequences of rising heat are already being felt.
The studies show that heat stress is not only a future risk. In 2023, rising workplace heat associated with climate change resulted in significant additional losses of working time and economic output compared with the historical baseline in all three countries. Agriculture and construction are among the sectors most exposed because of the physical nature of the work and high levels of outdoor employment.
The impact of heat stress extends well beyond these sectors, affecting manufacturing, transport, trade and services, as well as workers and enterprises in the informal economy. By 2040, reduced working time caused by heat stress is projected to amount to approximately 1.78 million full-time jobs in Ethiopia, 550,000 in Ghana and 129,000 in Senegal.
Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa, ILO Regional Director for Africa, said that heat stress is not only an environmental issue, but also a jobs, health and economic issue. Governments, employers and workers need to act together, combining stronger occupational safety and health measures with social protection, climate adaptation and economic planning.
The studies identify practical measures that can reduce the impact of rising heat, including adjusting working hours to avoid the hottest periods of the day, introducing appropriate work-rest cycles, providing shade, hydration and cooling facilities, strengthening workplace heat monitoring and occupational safety and health standards, and improving awareness of the symptoms and risks of heat stress.