The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has called for increased investment diversification in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and energy to boost labour productivity and create more jobs, outside the mining and oil industries.
According to a new report by the GSS, labour productivity in Ghana has seen moderate growth, with a significant increase between 2010 and 2016 due to the start of oil extraction. However, this growth has largely been concentrated in the mining sector, limiting its overall impact on the economy. Despite the mining sector’s high productivity gains, it has not generated substantial employment opportunities, failing to contribute significantly to job creation.
The report, conducted with support from the International Labour Organization and other development partners, also revealed that sectors like household agriculture and trade have experienced productivity growth. However, these gains have been offset by job losses, as workers have shifted to lower-productivity roles in construction and urban services.
Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, stressed the importance of data-driven policy decisions, explaining that labour productivity measures the efficiency of workers in producing goods and services over a specific period, while total productivity assesses how efficiently multiple inputs, such as labour, capital, and materials, contribute to overall growth.
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, commended the GSS for its timely and high-quality data. He emphasized the importance of efficiently managing the country’s natural resources, warning that without improved efficiency, productivity would remain low.
The GSS report highlights the need for strategic investments to promote broader economic growth and ensure that productivity gains translate into job creation across various sectors.
