2009年-世界发展银行全球_Ghana_-_Job_Creation_and_Skills_Development___Main_Report_115页_8mb

Summary of Ghana Job Creation and Skills Development Report (No. 40328-GH)

Core Content

This report, prepared by the World Bank, focuses on job creation and skills development in Ghana, examining the labor market outcomes, education and training systems, and policy implications for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. It is divided into two volumes, with Volume I containing the main report and Volume II comprising background papers.

Main Report Overview

1. Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

• Ghana has experienced fast and sustained economic growth since the 1990s, with an average GDP growth rate of 5% and reaching 6% in 2005-2006.
• This growth has significantly reduced poverty, with the core poor population dropping from 52% in 1991 to 28% in 2005.
• However, inequality has increased, and poverty reduction has been weaker in northern regions.
• Structural reforms and sound macroeconomic management have been key to this growth.

2. Labor Market Dynamics

• Population growth in Ghana is low by Sub-Saharan African standards, but urbanization is rising.
• The labor force has shifted from agriculture to better-paid jobs in self-employment and informal wage employment, especially in urban areas.
• The employment rate for the working-age population (25-64 years) has remained around 89%, with 2.8 million new jobs created between 1991 and 2005.
• Informal employment dominates, accounting for 82% of workers, while formal employment has decreased from 16% to 13% of total employment.

3. Labor Market Outcomes

• Earnings have increased significantly for all groups, with a 77% real increase between 1991 and 2005.
• Public sector workers earn 47% more than private formal sector employees.
• Self-employed in agriculture have seen a 92% increase in earnings, but still earn almost half of what non-agriculture self-employed workers earn.
• Unemployment remains low (around 2.3% in 2005), but is concentrated in urban areas and among young people and those with upper secondary education.
• There is heterogeneity among the unemployed, with one in five unemployed workers in poor households.

Key Policy Challenges and Recommendations

1. Structural and Institutional Barriers

• Macroeconomic policies need to support the transition to higher productivity sectors.
• Investment climate improvements are essential for job creation and economic transformation.
• Labor regulations, such as minimum wage and firing procedures, may hinder the growth of modern sectors.
• Industrial relations frameworks must be realistic and flexible to support both formal and informal sectors.

2. Education and Skills Development

• Basic education has expanded, but quality and equity remain major challenges.
• TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) is underdeveloped, with limited capacity to absorb Junior Secondary School graduates.
• Apprenticeships are not widely utilized, and a traditional apprenticeship system is needed to provide recognized skills and opportunities for further education.
• Education influences both job type and earnings, with higher education levels increasing the likelihood of wage employment.
• TVET and tertiary education have similar earnings returns, suggesting that skills training should be prioritized alongside formal education.

3. Youth Employment

• The National Youth Employment Program (NYEP) is a key initiative, but needs clear criteria, monitoring, and targeted support to be effective.
• Youth unemployment is a major concern, especially in urban areas.
• The Youth Employment Inventory highlights the need for policy interventions to improve employability.

Key Findings and Policy Implications

1. Job Creation Trends

• Job creation has been driven by economic growth, particularly in services and industry.
• Agriculture's share of GDP has declined, but more than half of the labor force remains in this sector.
• Informal urban employment has grown significantly, indicating a shift in labor distribution.

2. Education and Earnings

• Education has a positive return in terms of employment quality and earnings.
• Basic education has improved self-employed earnings, but TVET and tertiary education are more effective in securing wage employment.
• Education levels are strongly correlated with employment outcomes and poverty reduction.

3. Institutional and Policy Recommendations

• Reforms in labor policies, education, and skills development are essential for long-term growth.
• TVET reform should be comprehensive, involving national coordination, curriculum development, and sectoral alignment.
• Improving the investment climate and facilitating access to credit can help stimulate job creation.
• Enhancing social protection and pension systems is important for worker welfare.
• Regional policies are needed to address spatial inequalities and ensure equitable poverty reduction.

Conclusion

Ghana has made significant progress in economic growth and poverty reduction, but sustaining these gains requires policy reforms in labor markets, education, and skills development. The transition to higher productivity sectors is critical, and improving the investment climate and formalizing employment will be key to future job creation and economic transformation. The Government's strategy, including the National Employment Summit and COTVET, provides a framework for these reforms, but implementation and monitoring are essential for success.