Characteristics, Determinants, Challenges and Performance of Self-employment among the Youth in Uganda


Abstract views: 315 / PDF downloads: 481

Authors

  • Florence Barugahara Lecturer, Kabale University, Plot 364 Block 3 Kikungiri Hill, Kabale Municipality, Uganda,
  • Mildred Barungi Manager Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Uganda Development Corporation, Lumumba Avenue, Kampala, Uganda.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.14238

Keywords:

self-employment, Youth, binary and multivariate probit models, Uganda

Abstract

This study examined the characteristics, determinants, challenges and performance of self-employment among the youth in Uganda using the School-to-Work Transition survey data for 2015 collected by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. We employed two analytical approaches: descriptive statistics and binary and multivariate probit models. We found that most employed youths are self–employed. The majority of the youth were poor and had acquired primary education or less. Econometric estimations indicate that self-employment is determined by age, the number of children, financial status, education, high-income motive and flexible work hours. Most youth started businesses with individual savings or family money but not bank loans. Most youth faced unique problems, but financial constraints followed by market competition were the main challenges faced by the self-employed youth. Self-employment is not lucrative, and 20.29% of self-employed youths do not make profits from their entrepreneurial efforts. Moreover, 78.83% of the self-employed youths live below the poverty line.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Mildred Barungi, Manager Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Uganda Development Corporation, Lumumba Avenue, Kampala, Uganda.

Mildred Barungi is currently working as a Manager Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Agricultural and Resource Economics. Previously, Mildred worked with Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and Environmental Management Associates (EMA) Consult Ltd, where she gained experience in program monitoring and evaluation, conducting both desk-based and field-based research and analysing data using STATA. She has researched and published in the areas of transaction costs, agricultural technology adoption, impact assessment and policy evaluation.

Downloads

Published

2023-05-14

How to Cite

Barugahara, F., & Barungi, M. (2023). Characteristics, Determinants, Challenges and Performance of Self-employment among the Youth in Uganda. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 13(3), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.14238

Issue

Section

Articles