The Services sector maintained its dominance as the leading job provider in the economy, accounting for 91.6% of total advertised jobs recorded during the second quarter of this year, according to the Bank of Ghana Development Report.

Industry followed with a share of 6.5%, down from 9.1 percent in the second quarter of last year.

The Agriculture Sector accounted for 1.8% of the job openings during the period, compared with 1.7% of total job adverts recorded for the corresponding quarter of last year.

Further analysis showed that the main requirements for skilled employees were tertiary education qualifications and a minimum of three years’ working experience.

This category, classified as Professionals and Technicians, collectively accounted for 57.8% of total jobs advertised during the second quarter of this year, relative to 51.4% recorded in the second quarter of last year.

This was followed by Sales and Other Service Workers, accounting for 37%; Secretarial & Clerical Staff, which only accounted for 2.4% and Machine Operators which witnessed 1.5% of advertised jobs.

In total, 2,599 job adverts were recorded as compared with 2,148 for the second quarter of last year. This indicates a growth of 21.0%.

Similarly, the number of job vacancies advertised in the second quarter of this year increased by 11.9%.

Q2 GDP results

Ghana’s economy contracted by -3.2% in the second quarter of this year, the first time it has contracted since 1983.

According to figures released by the Ghana Statistical Service, the heavy fall was largely attributed to some restrictions on activities in the economy, which virtually came to a standstill during the partial lockdown period, as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak.

The services contracted but some of its sub sectors grew significantly.

The information and communication sub-sector recorded the highest expansion of 74.2%, while the hotel and restaurants sub-sector also recorded the highest contraction of 79.4%.