Social Science and Human Research Bulletin

This study examines the effect of economic recessions on job security and employment rights of public sector employees, with specific focus on government schools in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Economic recessions triggered by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, financial crises, inflation, and banking sector instability have disrupted labour markets globally. While public sector employment is often perceived as relatively secure, recurring economic shocks raise concerns about the extent to which job security and employment rights are preserved during downturns. Empirical evidence on these dynamics within the Ghanaian public sector remains limited. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to public sector employees and interview guides used with human resource managers. Quantitative data was analysed using IBM SPSS, while qualitative data was analysed thematically. The findings indicate that public sector employees have been affected by economic recessionary conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, government debt exchange programmes, bank collapses, and personal financial instability. These conditions resulted in changes in salaries and benefits, reduced job stability, and downsizing. However, statistical analysis revealed a very weak and insignificant relationship between economic recession and job security and employment rights (r = 0.042, p = 0.466). Employees adopted coping strategies such as savings, part-time work, social support, and skills development. The study recommends strengthening collective bargaining mechanisms, enhancing social protection policies, and promoting flexible work arrangements to better safeguard employment rights during economic downturns.

economic recession, job security, employment rights, public sector, Ghana, COVID-19.

1. Agarwal, P. (2021). Shattered but smiling: Human resource management and the wellbeing of hotel employees during COVID-19. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 93, 102765.
2. Ahsany, F., Alamsyah, A. F., & Al-Fatih, S. (2020). Legal protection of labor rights during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Jurnal Pembahruan Hukum, 7(2).
3. Alam, M. N., Hassan, M. M., Bowyer, D., & Reaz, M. (2020). The effects of wages and welfare facilities on employee productivity: Mediating role of employee work motivation. Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 14(4).
4. Amankwaah, E. (2023). Trade union, collective bargaining, and its effect on membership growth among public university lecturers in Ghana. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), 100593.
5. Axelrad, H., Sabbath, E. L., & Hawkins, S. S. (2018). The 2008–2009 Great Recession and employment outcomes among older workers. European Journal of Ageing, 15, 35-45.
6. Briken, K., Chillas, S., Krzywdzinski, M., & Marks, A. (2017). Labour process theory and the new digital workplace. The new digital workplace: How new technologies revolutionise work, 1.
7. Colovic, A., Escobar, O. R., Lamotte, O., & Meschi, P. X. (2019). Multinational enterprises, local firms, and employee human rights violation in the workplace: Evidence from Mexico. Multinational Business Review, 27(3), 247-265.
8. Fahmi, M. F., Anwar, M. K., Suryaningsih, S. A., Fahrullah, A. R., & Ramis, I. (2025). The influence of religion, economic recession, political conditions on employee welfare in Indonesia. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(11), 2025497-2025497.
9. Farber, H. S. (2015). Job loss in the Great Recession and its aftermath: US evidence from the displaced workers survey (No. w21216). National Bureau of Economic Research.
10. Fedotenkov, I., Kvedaras, V., & Sanchez-Martinez, M. (2024). Employment protection and labour productivity growth in the EU: skill-specific effects during and after the Great Recession. Empirica, 51(1), 209-262.
11. Felipe, J., & Estrada, G. (2020). What happened to the world's potential growth after the 2008–2009 global financial crisis?. Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 56, 101072.
12. Ficapal-Cusi, P., Diaz-Chao, A., Sainz-Ibanez, M., & Torrent-Sellens, J. (2018). Gender inequalities in job quality during the recession. Employee Relations, 40(1), 2-22.
13. Guerra, O., & Eboreime, E. (2021). The impact of economic recessions on depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders and illness outcomes—a scoping review. Behavioral Sciences, 11(9), 119.
14. Jaros, S. J. (2000). Labor process theory: A commentary on the debate. International Studies of Management & Organization, 30(4), 25-39.
15. Johnstone, S. (2024). Human resource management in recession: Restructuring and alternatives to downsizing in times of crisis. Human Resource Management Journal, 34(1), 138-157
16. Kim, P., Cho, W., & Yang, I. (2024). Workplace disruption in the public sector and HRM practices to enhance employee resilience. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 44(1), 86-115.
17. Larsen, T. P., & Navrbjerg, S. E. (2015). The economic crisis: Testing employee relations. Economic and Industrial Democracy, 36(2), 331-353.
18. Liang, M. (2021). A study of the labor process from a technology transformation perspective: the case of internet virtual teams. The Journal of Chinese Sociology, 8(1), 22.
19. Majeed, I. (2021). An Analysis of the Labour Process Theory: From Marx to Post-Braverman Debate. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
20. Ogbonnaya, C., Dhir, A., Maxwell-Cole, A., & Gorny, T. (2022). Cost-cutting actions, employment relations and workplace grievances: Lessons from the 2008 financial crisis. Journal of Business Research, 152, 265-275.
21. Omidi, A., Dal Zotto, C., & Gandini, A. (2023). Labor process theory and critical HRM: A systematic review and agenda for future research. European Management Journal, 41(6), 899-913.
22. Ozili, P. K. (2021). Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis: The Nigerian experience and structural causes. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 37(4), 401-418.
23. Padhan, R., & Prabheesh, K. P. (2021). The economics of COVID-19 pandemic: A survey. Economic analysis and policy, 70, 220-237.
24. Pepra-Mensah, J., & Kyeremeh, E. A. (2018). Organisational culture: A catalyst for employee engagement in the Ghanaian public sector. Global Journal of Human Resource Management, 6(3), 11-28.
25. Russell, H., & McGinnity, F. (2014). Under Pressure: The Impact of Recession on Employees in Ireland. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 52(2), 286-307.
26. Thompson, P., & Newsome, K. (2004). Labor process theory, work, and the employment relation. Theoretical perspectives on work and the employment relationship, 2004, 133-62.
27. Torá, I., Martínez, J. M., Benavides, F. G., Leveque, K., & Ronda, E. (2015). Effect of economic recession on psychosocial working conditions by workers' nationality. International journal of occupational and environmental health, 21(4), 328-332.
28. Tu, Y., Li, D., & Wang, H. J. (2021). COVID-19-induced layoff, survivors’ COVID-19-related stress and performance in hospitality industry: The moderating role of social support. International journal of hospitality management, 95, 102912.
29. Verd, J. M., Barranco, O., & Bolíbar, M. (2019). Youth unemployment and employment trajectories in Spain during the Great Recession: what are the determinants?. Journal for Labour Market Research, 53(1), 4.