Introduction

This section presents information on the economic activity status, size and structure of the labour force, and its distribution by occupation, industry, sector of employment and employment status. The2010 Population and Housing census is one of the most important sources of information for labour employment statistics in Amenfi East District in the Western Region and for that matter Ghana. The census results in the past have not only provided data on Ghana’s labour market and its population characteristics, but have also been a major source of information for advocacy and manpower planning in the country. This chapter discusses information on economically active and economically not active persons in the  Amenfi East District in relation to age, sex, location, marital status and level of education. Questions on economic characteristics of the population from 2010 census were asked with reference to seven (7) days before Census Night and of persons 5 years and older. This district report, is however concerned with persons 15 years and older.

 Economic Activity Status

Table 4.1 shows that of the total population of 48,423 aged 15 years and older, 75.2 percent is economically active (employed and unemployed) while the economically not active population ( including those in full time education, pensioners/retired, disabled/sick, homemakers or those engaged in home duties, too young /old and others) constitutes 24.8 percent.

For the economically active population 96.9 percent are employed and 3.1 percent unemployed. For the economically active but unemployed, 72.7 percent are seeking for work for the first time and are available for work. For the economically not active population, persons in full time education constitutes the highest proportion (49.8%), followed by those doing home duties or house chores (29.0%).

The results further show that the proportion of males employed (77.8%) is higher than the proportion of female (72.4%). On the other hand the proportion of females unemployed (3.2%) is higher than that of males (2.9%). A higher proportion of females are economically not active (27.6%) compared to their male counterparts (22.2%).

Table 4.2 shows the activity status of the population aged 15 years and older in the district. The district has 48,423 persons aged 15 years and older. Of this number the economically active who are employed is 35,295 constituting 72.9 percent. Also, the economically active but unemployed is employed and 1,113 (2.3%). The economically not active is 12,015 constituting 24.8 percent.

The age group with the highest proportion of unemployed (4.9%) is 20-24. This is followed by age group 25-29 with a proportion of 3.3 percent and 15-19 with a proportion of 2.7 percent.

In terms of sex, the proportion of males who are economically active and employed (75.5%) is higher their female (70.1%) counterparts. The proportion of economically not active females (27.6%) is higher than economically not active males (22.2%). Within the age group 20-24, a higher proportion of males (5.4%) are unemployed compared to females (4.5%).

Occupation

Table 4.3 shows that the majority (67.1%) of the economically active population aged 15 years and older are skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers. This is followed by those engaged in plant and machine operation and assembling (10.2%). Service and sales workers then follows with 9.4 percent.

Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery work remains the dominant occupation for both males (67.7%) and females (66.5%). However, while more males (16.2%) than females (3.4%) are engaged in the plant and machine operation and assembling sector, more females (16.7%) than males (2.9%) are employed in the sales and service sector. Clerical support workers (0.4%) and technical and associate professionals (0.9%) constitute the occupations with the lowest proportion of the employed population, and this is reflected in both males (0.4%), (1.4%) and females (0.3%), (0.4%) respectively.

Services and Financial Institutions

The district has one major market at Wassa Akropong and the market day is on Thursdays. Other satellite markets such as Opon Valley, Nananko, Bawdie/Dompim and Japa also boost economic activities. There is one rural bank in the district known as Amenfiman rural bank with an agency at Bawdie, one of the towns in the district. Aside the rural bank, four micro credit organizations also operate in the district. These are Ghamfo Savings and Loans Company, Multi credit Company Ltd, Boin Microfinance Company and Jodga Financial Consult. There is potential for the establishment of more banks as small scale mining activities are rising at various parts of the district. The road network in the district is mostly feeder roads with 284km engineered (meaning the road is motorable with bridges and culverts in place) and 53.2 partially engineered and 68.9km non-engineered. With the help of COCOBOD, a number of these feeder roads are being tarred.