Citation :

Jemima N. A. A. Lomotey , 2026. "Work Ethic and Economic Mobility: A Study of Perceptions across Socioeconomic Classes in Ghana" International Journal of Community Empowerment & Society Administration [IJCESA]  Volume 3, Issue 1: 12-17.

Abstract :

The study examined the relationship between work ethic and economic mobility by analyzing how individuals from different socioeconomic classes in Ghana perceived the role of personal effort, opportunity, and structural conditions in shaping upward mobility. The purpose of the study was to determine whether perceptions of work ethic varied across class groups and how these perceptions influenced beliefs about economic success. A descriptive research design was adopted, involving a mixed-methods approach that gathered data from respondents across lower-income, middle-income, and upper-income households in selected urban and peri-urban communities. The study found significant class-based differences in how work ethic was understood. While upper-income respondents emphasised discipline, long-term planning, and skill acquisition as drivers of mobility, lower-income respondents viewed work ethic through the lens of daily survival, informal labour pressures, and limited access to enabling opportunities. The findings indicated that although work ethic was widely considered important, perceptions of its effectiveness differed across classes depending on exposure, opportunity structures, and lived experiences. The study concluded that work ethic alone could not account for economic mobility unless supported by equitable access to resources, fair labour conditions, and leadership interventions that address structural inequalities in Ghana.

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Keywords :

Work Ethic, Economic Mobility, Socioeconomic Class, Perceptions, Ghana.