Editorial: 68% of employed engaged in vulnerable jobs!

According to the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, more than 68 percent of Ghana’s employed working-age population are engaged in vulnerable jobs.

Citing findings from the 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the minister said that of 19 million working age Ghanaians, just over 11 million are employed – with only a little over 3 million in what qualifies as “decent work”.

The majority are in precarious jobs, often without social protection, job security or fair pay, he added.

Although the construction sector has undergone some transformation, growth is still constrained for skilled artisans due to a saturated local market and limited access to wider opportunities.

Mr. Opare Addo made these remarks during the Professionalisation of Artisans (ProfArts) mobile application launch in Accra.

Government, he noted, recognises potentials in the construction sector and welcomes initiatives that ensure these opportunities are fully explored.

As government prepares for rolling out the National Apprenticeship Programme to equip youth with practical skills across various sectors, including construction, Mr. Opare Addo commended developers of the ProfArts app  describing it as “timely”.

He encouraged artisans to adopt digital tools and urged consumers to use the app for accessing verified, professional services.

The ProfArts mobile application was developed through a partnership between the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), Robert Bosch Ghana and Consolidated Bank Ghana.

The app aims to boost employment prospects for local artisans in the construction industry by connecting them directly with customers through a secure, user-friendly platform.

Ms. Chantel Kristin Lahmer, who spoke on behalf of the German Ambassador to Ghana, said ProfArts app supports artisans in securing better working conditions, expanding their customer base and delivering services that meet industry standards.

The ProfArts Project was initiated five years ago under the Special Initiative on Decent Work for a Just Transition, which operates under the Invest for Jobs brand by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

So far, more than 2,000 artisans have benefitted from training in practical skills, business & financial literacy and digital tools. Over 700 have gained national certification and more than 1,300 have been licenced under the GhIE Craftsmen Register.

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