Some businesses and Chief Executives say they are struggling to get the required skills set to fill the various vacancies at their offices and enterprises.

According to some of the firms, the development has forced them to hire expatriates to fill these position at their outfits.

Some of the Chief Executives disclosed this on  PM Express Business Edition with host George Wiafe on February 23, 2023 . 

Speaking on the Programme, Chief Operating Officer and Principal Architect, Spektra Global, Karen Evans Halm noted that companies are struggling to get the right human resources to fit into some positions in some sectors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy25WZyN0Ok

 “It has been a real challenge, undertaking some of these interviews, because you cannot get what you are looking for after going through this exercise.  Every day we are struggling to get the right people to fill these positions at the offices and even at the construction sites and that is a real struggle”, she said.

Contrary to the perception that there are no jobs, Ms. Halm held the view that there many vacancies but with no specialized labour to fill it.

 “We have been looking for a construction manager for the past two years and that has really been a struggle. I don’t know whether we should also join others to bring in these expatriates,” she said.

The Chief Executive of Mikado Holdings, Nana Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo, said Ghanaian businesses are willing to employ locals but, unfortunately are unable to find the right people.

 “I am in the pharmaceutical industry and we have no one called Industrial Engineering pharmacist, so most of the pharmaceutical firms are employing expatriates, like Indians and Chinese to work on these machines in our factories”, he stated.

Pointing out some behaviors that make people unfit for for some job positions, Dr. Addo said some employees are very greedy and have an attitude of getting rich overnight.

Solutions

Dr. Addo noted that the time has come to take a second look at the courses taught in schools to match the demands of the job market.

On her part, Founder and CEO of DTI and Accent & Arts Constance Elizabeth Swaniker cautioned that the issues should be seen as a security threat.

Ms. Swaniker stated that the time has come for the country to take a second look at Technical and Vocational training  to bridge the gap.