Only 2% of youth labour force find formal work

Joyce Awuah, an Employment Services Manager of MTN, has said data from the World Bank indicate that only 2 percent of the 250,000 youth in the country’s labour force succeed in landing jobs in the formal sector. She said the fact that some youth have ventured into fraud and other social vices mirrors the scarcity of formal jobs in the country.

MTN Ghana has therefore taken the initiative to help and inspire young unemployed citizens and graduates to find jobs or create their own jobs amid the ailing economy and the huge challenges that accompany it.

This initiative, their annual Career Fair, took place in Accra recently and was a platform to speak to the youth on modern, effective ways of finding jobs as well as the appropriate elements needed to venture into entrepreneurship so as to cut down the unemployment rate in the country.

She said there are new ways of preparing curriculum vitae (CV) which can land for the youth jobs of their choice, adding that since trends are changing the old culture whereby CVs were presented in hard copies is outdated and job-seekers must adapt to the new ways through using technology to make them competitive on the job market.

Noel Ganson, General Manager for Segment Marketing of MTN Ghana, in his remarks at the fair, entreated the youth to keep abreast with information and technology so as to boost their capacities toward employability.

“In line with our new vision, which is to lead in the delivery of a bold new digital world, I would like to encourage all of you to use technology to enhance your skills and your job search.

“Ghana needs talented individuals who can function effectively and efficiently wherever they find themselves. Employers need people who have the initiative, the right attitude, resilience and the confidence to create, package and sell,” he said.

The event was the second after the first in 2013, which yielded positive results by providing jobs for some youth.

Firms that turned-up at the event to recruit include Rancard Solutions, Totally Youth, Jobs in GH, and Top Talent amongst others.