GSS completes training of field officers ahead of quarterly Labour Force Survey

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has finished training 40 field teams. This training is for the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). Data collection will soon begin.

The QLFS is a new survey. It will provide regular data on employment, poverty, and food insecurity in Ghana. The training's closing ceremony took place on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Dr. Faustina Frempong Ainguah spoke to the field officers. She is the Deputy Government Statistician. She said the QLFS will aid planning and monitoring for national development. This is important due to recent changes in work patterns.

“The focus of this survey is understanding how people live and work,” Dr. Ainguah explained. “We aim to collect information that helps the government make informed decisions.”

Fieldwork starts on Monday, May 17, 2025. It will continue until the fourth quarter of 2026.

The QLFS will gather data on various topics. These include labour force participation, job quality, and working conditions. It will also look at non-income indicators of poverty like housing and health.

Data collection will use electronic tablets with a computer-assisted personal interview application. Each team has one supervisor, four interviewers, and one driver.

The GSS trained seven quality monitors as well. They will manage real-time data review through a digital dashboard.

Francis Bright Mensah is the Project Coordinator for the QLFS. He emphasized that field officers are crucial to this process. The accuracy of data relies on how interviews are conducted.

The GSS implements the QLFS with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). Results will help review policies related to employment and social protection.

Public participation is vital for survey success, according to GSS. They encourage selected households to cooperate with field officers and provide honest responses.

Dr. Ainguah urged all selected households to participate: “Your information shapes programs and resource distribution.”

The GSS also called on media, local authorities, and community leaders for support in raising awareness about the QLFS.