"Relate skills to job" – Gov’t Statistician to Employers

The Government Statistician has called on employers to ensure that the skills of workers align with the jobs they are hired to perform, warning that skills mismatch undermines productivity, output and overall profitability of organisations.

Speaking exclusively to Thinknewsonline.com on Thursday while addressing employers, the Government Statistician revealed that recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) shows a mixed picture of skills alignment in the labour market.

According to him, about 65.8 per cent of employed persons in Ghana believe their skills adequately match their jobs, indicating that a majority of workers feel well placed in their current roles.

However, the data also shows significant gaps: 20.7 per cent of workers are unsure whether their skills match their jobs, while 10 per cent feel their skills exceed the requirements of their positions.

In addition, about 3 per cent of employed persons believe their skills fall below the demands of their jobs.

He stressed that employers must pay closer attention to skills-job alignment during recruitment, noting that organisations hire workers primarily to enhance productivity and increase output.

“You cannot achieve increased productivity if you bring in people whose skills do not match the job,” he explained.

He added that proper matching ultimately contributes to profitability and the attainment of broader organisational goals.

The Government Statistician also pointed to the role of the education system in addressing skills mismatch.

He said the availability of labour market data from the GSS provides clear evidence that should guide educational planning.

"It is important to identify the skills required for good jobs so that our educational system is refined to provide the right courses and programmes that deliver relevant, job-specific skills,” he noted.

Beyond employers and educational institutions, he said households and individuals also have a responsibility.

He called for greater sensitisation of families and job seekers on the impact of skills match or mismatch on careers, economic outcomes and overall wellbeing.

He expressed optimism that with increased awareness, better alignment of education and labour market needs, and the creation of more job opportunities, the incidence of skills mismatch in Ghana could be significantly reduced.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith