Abstract:
The study examined the role of personality traits in determining the type of employment and work performance in Ghana. An explanatory research design was adopted and data from the Ghana STEP (Skills Toward Employment and Productivity) initiative were used. Specifically, the study considered the effect of personality traits on type of employment; and the effect of personality traits on work performance. The study adopted the Human Capital Theory and the Heckman equation as the theoretical basis for this study. The sample was gathered through a two-stage random sampling of households and individuals. A sample size of 2,987 consisting of individuals between 15 and 64 years of age and a response rate of 83% was obtained. The study employed student t-test, linear probability model, and probit regression for the empirical analysis. The findings revealed a relationship between type of employment (employed, public employed, self-employed) and personality traits. Further, higher education is associated with type of work the respondent does. Again, the respondent ability to read and write had an association with personality traits (conscientiousness, openness, stability, and agreeableness). Furthermore, agreeableness, in particular, had an increase in public sector employment while openness is associated with the rise self-employment. Also, openness and conscientiousness were associated with higher work performance. Besides, the study recommends that skills acquisition in lower and higher education must not only focus on technical skill and cognitive skills but target the development of skills in line with the individual abilities as manifested by their personality traits.
