GSS to conduct annual labour force survey

The Ghana statistical Service has announced conducting annual labour force survey beginning from October 2012.

Acting Government Statistician, Dr. Philemona Nyarko announced this at the launch of the 6th Ghana Living Standards survey (GLSS).

The annual survey would generate time series data to facilitate the assessment and impact of policies and programmes on the labour force in the country.

She noted there has been several concerns raised both internally and externally for Ghana to have a comprehensive data on her labour force to be able to measure and provide accurate and policy relevant data on employment.

Ghana has conducted five rounds of living standards surveys since 1987. The second, third and fourth rounds were taken in 87/88, 91/92 and 98/99 respectively. These surveys have provided information for assessing poverty levels and general living conditions of Ghanaians with the last round focused on non- farm enterprises.

The sixth round launched would focus mainly on labour force. In an interview with Joy News, Government Statistician, Dr. Philomena Nyarko explained it has become necessary as available data does not provide enough information on the labor force.

The GLSS would also provide data on use of financial services by households, child labour, testing of water quality and assessment on the living standards of people in the savannah ecological zone and the relative levels of poverty.

As previous GLSS data has shown a decline of poverty level from 52% to 28.5%. World Bank Representative, Lynne Henderson called for different strategies and programmes to address poverty in order to achieve its MDG 1 of which the goal is to reduce to 26% by 2015.

The survey is set to begin on October 8 with two hundred and fifty eight personnel trained to collect data from the field within 21 days in eighteen thousand selected households in all the ten regions. Data collected would also be released by October 2013.

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