Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, has commissioned one of the newly constructed 16 national Public Employment Centres (PECs) for the Labour Department at Atebubu in the Bono Region. A statement issued by the Ministry of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, copied to the Ghana News Agency said the Minister emphasized that these Centres would host the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS). 'The GLMIS will contribute to developing critical skill sets for national economic transformation, minimizing the skill mismatches, and reducing unemployment,' he stated. He noted that the 16 Public Employment Centres had been constructed across the country, with one in each region under the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP). Speaking at a durbar of the chiefs and people of Atebubu, the Minister stated that the project aims to improve capacities to support skills development and job creation in Ghana, providing opportunities for the Government throug h the Ministry to enhance the capacity of the Labour Department at the national, regional and district levels. Mr Baffour Awuah highlighted that the Labour Department faces significant constraints regarding the collection and dissemination of data information related to interactions in the labour market. 'This information is crucial for employers, job seekers, training institutions, curriculum developers, and policymakers to make informed decisions about the dynamics of the labour market', he said. He disclosed that the Public Employment Centres provide avenues for job seekers to inquire about the availability of job vacancies, post their career profiles on the GLMIS and interact with employers. He explained that the System offers jobseekers access to a wide range of labour market resources allowing them to study emerging trends, acquire in-demand skills and adjust their career paths to meet the demands of the workforce. He further explained that individuals seeking employment and employable skills could approach the PECs to inquire about available vacancies, seek the skills they need for jobs and receive advice on how and where to acquire those skills to improve their career path choices. He reiterated that in addition to the buildings, pick-up vehicles and motorbikes have been made available to the officers at each centre, to enable them to conduct labour inspections, job canvassing and engage other stakeholders for quality service delivery. For his part, Mr Kwasi Adu-Gyan, the Bono East Regional Minister noted that one of the ways to address unemployment was to provide facilities ensuring that jobseekers acquire the skills required by employers. He stated that information on job vacancies was openly available to all prospective jobseekers which would help them develop career paths that align with future jobs. The Regional Minister admonished the people of Atebubu-Amantin Municipal and the entire Bono East Region to follow up, take an active part, and ensure that facilities being put in place are well m aintained and utilized for their intended purposes. Source: Ghana News Agency