2016年-世界发展银行全球_Deepening_without_Broadening____Jobs_in_Ghanas_Private_Sector_39页_794kb

Summary of "Deepening without Broadening? Jobs in Ghana's Private Sector"

Core Content

This paper investigates the relationship between job creation and firm productivity in Ghana's formal private sector, using data from the 2013 World Bank Enterprise Survey. It explores whether job growth in Ghana is concentrated among a few large and older firms or spread across a broader range of firms, and whether these jobs are productive or not.

Main Findings

• Job Creation and Productivity: Larger and older firms account for the majority of employment in the formal private sector. These firms are more productive and pay higher wages compared to smaller and younger firms.
• Formal Job Density: The formal job density is highest in Accra, including the Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA) and Tema.
• Sectoral Trends: Job creation has been largely concentrated in low-productivity sectors such as trade services (wholesale and retail) and urban self-employment. In contrast, the industry sector, especially manufacturing, has contributed very few jobs.
• Growth of the Economy vs. Employment: Despite strong economic growth, especially from 2006 to 2012, the employment growth has not kept pace. This suggests a potential "jobless growth" phenomenon, where economic expansion does not translate into significant job creation.
• Firm Size and Productivity: There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between firm size and productivity, primarily driven by the upper end of the size distribution. However, the economic significance of this correlation is limited.
• MSMEs and Job Creation: Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have not been as effective in creating jobs and are less productive compared to larger firms. This indicates a possible inefficiency in the allocation of resources and labor to these firms.
• Firm Lifecycle Dynamics: Firms in Ghana tend to grow over time if they survive, but growth is not evenly distributed. While the average firm doubles in size, the median firm remains around the same size as at inception, suggesting that only a subset of firms grows substantially.
• Policy Implications: The paper suggests that removing barriers to growth for MSMEs and improving linkages between small and large firms could enhance productivity and job creation. It also emphasizes the importance of encouraging technology transfer and market access for small and young firms.

Key Information

• Data Source: The study uses firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (2013), covering registered firms in the industrial and service sectors.
• Employment Stock: In 2012, the formal private sector employed approximately 170,000 workers, representing about 15 percent of the total employment in the same sectors as reported by the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS6).
• Firm Size Distribution:
  • Micro firms: 63% of registered firms (0–4 employees)
  • Small firms: 28% (5–19 employees)
  • Medium firms: 7% (20–99 employees)
  • Large firms: 2% (>100 employees)
• Employment Concentration:
  • Large firms account for nearly half of the formal private sector workforce.
  • Employment is concentrated in larger firms, with the average large firm employing nearly 300 full-time workers.
• Age Distribution:
  • A plurality of firms are mature (operating for more than 10 years).
  • A third of firms are young start-ups (under 5 years old).
  • Most firms (43%) are mature, while 25% are mid-age (6–10 years), 19% are young (3–5 years), and 13% are new (2 years).
• Job Growth:
  • Job creation has been driven by low-productivity sectors.
  • The growth in employment is not proportional to economic growth, indicating inefficiencies in job creation.
  • The employment-growth elasticity has decreased over time, suggesting a marginal slowdown in job creation in response to economic growth.

Policy Recommendations

• Support for MSMEs: Policy should focus on removing barriers to growth for micro, small, and medium enterprises to improve their productivity and job creation potential.
• Enhance Market Access: Improving linkages between small and large firms can promote technology transfer and access to larger markets.
• Promote Efficient Resource Allocation: Encouraging the allocation of resources toward more productive firms can help improve overall employment outcomes.
• Strengthen Formal Sector: Efforts should be made to increase the representation of the formal sector in employment, as it remains a small portion of total employment in Ghana.

Conclusion

The paper highlights that while Ghana has experienced significant economic growth, job creation in the formal private sector remains limited and concentrated among larger, older firms. This raises concerns about the inclusiveness of growth and the potential for jobless expansion. The findings underscore the need for policies that support the growth and productivity of MSMEs to ensure more widespread job creation and shared prosperity.