article · Journal of Human Resource &Leadership
Ghana's push towards export-oriented garment manufacturing is constrained by a notable workforce skills mismatch. A survey of 3,864 working-age individuals alongside assessments of 37 technical and vocational education and training institutions in the Volta Region reveals critical competency deficits for modern apparel production. While 52.88 percent of individuals possess functional stitching skills, advanced capabilities such as pattern making, embroidery, and machine maintenance are limited. Technical graduates show stronger operational readiness than tertiary graduates, but 78.38 percent of training institutions face equipment shortages, poor industry connections, and inadequate digital training. Additionally, women make up over 70 percent of the potential workforce but remain confined to lower-skilled jobs. The research outlines a framework involving competency-based curriculum reform, industry partnerships, and apprenticeship models to address these gaps under regional free trade initiatives.
Addressing workforce readiness in garment manufacturing is critical for industrial diversification and economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Identifying specific technical training deficits and institutional constraints enables policymakers and educators to align training with export standards, helping to modernise apparel production and improve high-value employment opportunities, especially for women.
The findings inform curriculum designers, technical training institutes, and export garment manufacturers seeking to upgrade workforce capabilities. The research proposes an applied, multi-tiered framework featuring competency-based training, industry collaboration, and an apprenticeship-to-factory transition model. Although this work represents an applied policy and operational framework rather than a commercialised product, its models are positioned for adoption by vocational centres and apparel enterprises aiming to build factory-ready talent.
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Export-oriented garment manufacturing is recognised as a key pathway for Ghana's industrial diversification, yet its growth is hindered by a significant skills mismatch. A mixed-methods survey of 3,864 working-age individuals and assessments of 37 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in the Volta Region of Ghana reveal a gap between workforce skills and the competencies required for modern apparel production. Knowledge of textile fabric properties is particularly important because it influences cutting techniques, machine settings, finishing processes, and quality control. Although more than half of respondents (52.88%) demonstrate proficiency in functional stitching, proficiency in advanced skills such as pattern making (36.03% good/excellent), embroidery skills (22.67%), and machine maintenance remains limited. Vocational/technical graduates demonstrate greater operational readiness than respondents from other educational backgrounds, whereas tertiary graduates exhibit substantial competency mismatches. The TVET system is constrained by equipment shortages (78.38% of institutions), weak industry connections, low employment placement rates, and insufficient training in digital production skills. Gender is also an important factor: women, who make up 70.63% of the potential workforce, are often concentrated in lower-skilled roles because of structural barriers. This paper presents a demand-side gap analysis based on primary survey data and proposes a multi-tiered policy framework, including competency-based curriculum reform, industry–TVET collaboration, gender-responsive provisions, and a graduated apprenticeship-to-factory transition model. The findings have implications for other Sub-Saharan African economies pursuing industrial development under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Keywords: Skills mismatch, Garment manufacturing, Workforce readiness, TVET, Ghana
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DOI: 10.53819/81018102t5455
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