GSS launches quarterly labour force survey to strengthen economic planning

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has rolled out a new Quarterly Labour Force Survey aimed at anchoring employment statistics at the core of the country’s development planning and economic policymaking.

Government Statistician, Professor Alhassan Iddrisu, described the move as a major breakthrough in Ghana’s pursuit of reliable, regular data on employment, unemployment, and labour dynamics, critical areas often overlooked in national statistics.

Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Economy and Development, Prof. Iddrisu stressed the necessity of incorporating labour data into broader economic analyses.

“You cannot tell a compelling story about the movement in the economy if you don't include employment data,” he said.

He added, “Unfortunately, we've not been able to produce employment statistics on a routine basis in the past. That is changing.”

The new initiative builds on the Labour Force Study first introduced in 2016 and is expected to fill a crucial data gap by regularly tracking workforce trends and the informal economy. According to Prof. Iddrisu, the survey will complement GDP and inflation figures to present a more complete picture of national progress, helping policymakers better align economic growth with improved livelihoods.

He hinted that with stronger financial support, the Statistical Service could scale the survey from a quarterly exercise to monthly reporting, placing Ghana among the few African nations with such high-frequency labour market data.

Data Reform Agenda

The labour survey forms part of a wider reform strategy underway at the GSS, which currently has several national surveys in progress. These include the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round Two, due for completion in early 2026, and the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey that has been ongoing since 2023.

Other major surveys underway or planned are the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey focused on poverty, HIV, and key social indicators, and a new Informal Employment Policy Study tailored to the realities of Ghana’s large informal sector.

While updating lawmakers on these initiatives, Prof. Iddrisu raised concerns about funding challenges, revealing that a staggering 85 percent of financing for these critical statistical projects comes from foreign donors.

“That's simply not sustainable,” he said, highlighting the economic value of investing in data. “The UN has shown that every dollar spent on generating data yields around $32 in economic return. Yet, we remain overly dependent on donor support.”

He appealed to Parliament to help reverse the current model by ensuring that the majority of funding comes from domestic sources.

Investing in Evidence

Prof. Iddrisu emphasised the importance of quality and timely data, not only for executive decision-making, but also for guiding judicial processes, legislative debates, private sector investment, and international development assistance.

He pledged accountability in the use of funds by the GSS and said the institution would continue to maximise the impact of existing resources to build trust among stakeholders.

Deepening Parliamentary Collaboration

The Government Statistician also announced plans to formalise a new partnership between GSS and Parliament through a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement, which is nearing completion, aims to foster collaboration in data production, capacity building, and shared access to critical economic and social indicators.

This initiative follows a recent high-level engagement with the UK Office for National Statistics, attended by the Speaker of Parliament, majority and minority leaders, and several committee heads.

Committee Commitment to Data-Driven Oversight

The Ranking Member of the Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, echoed the importance of data in national accountability efforts. He said Parliament will increasingly rely on hard numbers like GDP growth, inflation, and labour statistics to assess the impact of public spending.

“The NDPC is responsible for setting out Ghana's development plans and monitoring their implementation. Very soon, they will be bringing us performance reports, especially in the economic and industrial sectors, so we can begin public hearings and examine how effectively public funds are being used,” he noted.

The new labour data reforms, officials say, will strengthen the country’s capacity to deliver targeted, transparent, and inclusive development in line with national priorities.