The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment has begun a nationwide programme to disseminate information on the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS) portals.
The centralised database developed by the ministry is a digital platform serving as repository of information of all labour market indicators to facilitate job matching, career and skills development as well as evidence-based policy interventions on the labour market.
It, among others, allow job seekers to register and advertise their skills to potential employers who also advertise and post job vacancies on the same portal.
A two-day programme was held in Accra targeted at private sector employers, to discuss issues on the mandate of the ministry, focus collection and dissertation of labour market data, sensitisation on GLMIS, indicators on job creation and labour market data entry.
The sector minister, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, in a speech read on his behalf indicated that the effective operationalisation of the GLMIS would help address the huge unemployment gap confronting the country.
“Unemployment is a social canker that can degenerate into a national security threat if not addressed in a comprehensive manner hence government’s readiness to effectively collaborate with the private sector employers to ensure its successful implementation,” he added.
The system, he indicated had been developed to serve as a repository of labour market data to enable the actors including job seekers, academia, training providers and employers to take evidence-based decisions on availability of existing vacancies.
Some people, the Minister stated were unemployed not because there are no jobs but simply had no information as to where their skills are required while employers found it difficult to get the calibre of workers they really needed as they had not reached the right target with their advertisement.
“This could contribute to skills mismatch and inefficiencies in the labour market which could affect productivity in the national economy,” he added.
Dr Pelpuo noted that the policy intervention was necessary to enable the ministry get feedback on the success or otherwise of the programme to inform government on strategies to contribute or facilitate efficiency in the market.
The minister said it was the duty of the ministry to coordinate job creation and employment interventions in both public and private sectors to promote harmonious industrial relations for economic development
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
