Employment Ministry to conduct survey on qualification and skills mismatches

The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE) will conduct a survey in June. This survey is called the Qualification and Skills Mismatches Survey (QSMS). It will be done in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

The QSMS aims to assess how well workers' qualifications match their job requirements. This information will help inform policy decisions. It is the first nationwide survey of its kind in Ghana.

Qualification mismatches happen when workers’ skills do not fit their jobs. This can include over-education, under-education, or mismatched fields of study.

Mr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo announced the survey during a meeting in Accra on Wednesday. The meeting included experts from the labour and employment sectors. They discussed findings from a pilot survey and plans for the national rollout.

Mr. Pelpuo noted that reliable data on these mismatches is crucial for national development. He emphasized its importance for educational planning and improving productivity. “This survey is timely and crucial,” he stated.

He added that students aim to find jobs matching their skills after school. The data collected will help align education with market demands.

Mr. Shadrack Mensah, Director of Research at GSS, shared updates on enumerator recruitment. They are using an online portal for this process and will soon start training sessions.

“We are preparing enumerators for fieldwork,” he said. They will receive detailed manuals to ensure quality data collection.

Both the Ministry and GSS are optimistic about the insights from QSMS. These insights could help align education with job market needs, boosting employment outcomes and economic growth.