Economics Paper 2, WASSCE (PC, 2ND) 2020

Question 3

 

  1. Explain the following:
    (i)     occupational mobility of labour;
    (ii)    geographical mobility of labour;
    (iii)    occupational mobility of labour;
    (iv)    occupational mobility of labour

  2.  Explain any four factors that affect mobility of labour.

  Observation

This question was attempted by most of the candidates. The question required candidates to explain occupational mobility of labour, geographical mobility of labour, labour force, and supply of labour in the (a) part of the question and explain any four factors that affect mobility of labour in the (b) part of the question. Most candidates were unable to explain the concepts of occupational and geographically mobility of labour correctly, they failed to use the required term “ease” in the answers provided and were also unable to properly explain labour force and supply of labour as expected in the (a) part of the question; most of the candidates who were able to list the factors that affect mobility of labour didn’t expatiate on their points in the (b) part of the question. The performance of candidates in this question was below average.

 

Candidates were expected to answer thus to obtain maximum marks:

(a)

(i)    Occupational mobility of labour refers to the ease with which labour can move from one occupation to another.                                                                                                                                              
(ii)   Geographical mobility of labour is the ease with which labour can move from one geographical area to another.      

(iii)  Labour force: The total number of the working population (18 to 60 years) in a country
who are willing and able to work as permitted by law. It comprises the employed and the unemployed who are looking for jobs.                                                                            (iv)  Supply of labour is the number of people that are willing to offer themselves for work at the existing wage rate. OR
It is the number of hours that labour is willing to work at the existing wage rate.

 (b)

(i)   Sociological factors e.g. attachment to family/cultural ties/social ties.
(ii)   Climatic conditions at other places.
(iii)  Cost of movement and getting settled.
(iv)  The age of the worker (youthful or aged).
(v)   Job security enjoyed at one’s present job.
(vi)  Housing/accommodation problems.
(vii) Language or other ethnic problems.              
(viii)Information about better job conditions elsewhere.
(ix)  Existence or otherwise of social amenities.
(x)   Duration / cost of training and retraining.
(xi)  Trade union activities.
(xii) Natural talents(singing, dancing, being a comedian etc)
(xiii)Government policy on employment (embargo)
(xiv)Wage differentials among labour.
(xv)Capital required to begin a business.
(xvi)Societal attitudes towards certain occupations.
(xvii)Conditions of work at one’s workplace.
(xviii)Cost of living in certain areas of one’s country.
(xix) Requisite qualification and skills needed for a particular job.
(xx) Age of worker even though he has the requisite qualification.