Moonlighting and Wage Differentials: A Case Study of the Public and Formal Private Sectors in Ghana

Moonlighting and Wage Differentials: A Case Study of the Public and Formal Private Sectors in Ghana | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Moonlighting and Wage Differentials: A Case Study of the Public and Formal Private Sectors in Ghana Matilda Kabutey-Ongor, Richmond Woblesseh, Frederick Richmond Yorke, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8253647/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 17 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose With widening wage gaps between Ghana’s public and private sectors, many workers engage in secondary employment (moonlighting) to supplement income and sustain living standards. This paper examines the incidence and drivers of moonlighting, focusing on how sectoral wage differentials shape such decisions. While prior studies have explored general motives for multiple jobholding, few have empirically linked these behaviours to wage disparities. The study investigates whether public–private wage gaps influence moonlighting and identifies the main determinants of sectoral wage outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on nationally representative data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7), the study applies Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) to estimate determinants of wages, Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition to quantify wage gaps, and probit models to assess the probability of moonlighting. Explanatory variables include personal (education, gender, marital status), household (size, rural/urban location), and labour market characteristics (experience, hours worked, job security). Findings: Results show that education, location, and experience significantly affect wages in both sectors, while men consistently earn more than women. Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition reveals that most wage differences stem from variations in worker characteristics, though unexplained disparities point to structural inefficiencies. Moonlighting is more prevalent in the public sector, driven by lower wages and cost-of-living pressures. Lower earnings, larger households, and rural residence significantly increase the likelihood of secondary employment. Originality/value: This study provides the first empirical evidence linking public–private wage disparities to moonlighting in Ghana, offering insights to guide wage policy, labour market reforms, and human resource strategies. Moonlighting Wage Differentials Labour Market Oaxaca–Blinder Decomposition Public–Private Sectors Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 12 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 01 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 31 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 31 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 24 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 06 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 02 Dec, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 01 Dec, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8253647","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":612055275,"identity":"a3bbf4c5-d4e3-4a58-9549-ed00f0728b92","order_by":0,"name":"Matilda 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