New data released by the Bank of Ghana on developments within the labour market indicates that the Services Sector has maintained its dominance as the leading job-providing sector in the economy, accounting for 80.2 percent of total job adverts recorded during the third quarter of 2020.

This compares with a share of 82.2 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2019.

Giving more details in the document titled, The Bank of Ghana Quarterly Bulletin for July to September 2020, the Central Bank stated that the “industry sector followed with a share of 16.1 percent (up from 15.2% in the third quarter of 2019), while the Agriculture Sector accounted for 3.7 percent of the job adverts during the period, compared with 2.7 percent of total job adverts recorded for the corresponding quarter of 2019.”

In terms of skills set for job adverts, further analysis by the Central Bank indicated that the main requirements for skilled employees were tertiary education qualification(s) and a minimum of three years’ working experience.

“This category, classified as Professionals and Technicians, collectively accounted for 52.3 percent of total jobs advertised during the third quarter of 2020, relative to 41.5 percent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2019. This was followed by the categories classified as Sales & Other Service Workers (29.5% in Q3:2020 vs. 38.0% in Q3:2019), Artisans & Machine Operators (11.0% vs. 10.6%), Secretarial & Clerical Staff (5.0% vs. 6.6%) and ‘Others’ (2.2% vs. 3.4%),” the statement noted.

On the labour market conditions within the country, the data showed that the number of jobs advertised in selected print and online media, declined in the third quarter of 2020 relative to what was observed in the third quarter of 2019.

According to the report, print and online media, are part of selected indicators used to measure labour demand in the economy.

It stated that in total, 6,880 job adverts were recorded in the third quarter of 2020 as compared with 9,485 for the third quarter of 2019, indicating a decline of 27.5 percent (year-on-year).

Similarly, the number of job vacancies advertised in the review period dipped by 28.2 percent from 9,582 recorded for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease in the number of jobs advertised reflects the difficulties faced by businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.