Abstract
This study examined the perceptions, attitude and contribution of self – employment among youths in Lagos State with the aim of ascertaining the factors that inspire perception, attitude of youth self-employment and how it impacts the youths. A survey was conducted among youths in Ojo LGA, Lagos State Nigeria using a self - designed questionnaire collect data on different factors related to youth perception, attitude and contributions to self-employment. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistic, Chi Square test and Analysis of Variance with the aid of Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS). The result show that 57.0% of the youths agreed that self-employment development among young people is high and this was significantly associated with perception and attitude of self-employed youth (p < 0.05). However, the perception, attitudes and views on contribution of self – employment differed significantly among youths from the major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria (p < 0.05). It was therefore concluded that some demographic factors are significantly associated with perception and attitude of youths on self-employment. Also, self – employment improves the standard of living of youths and increase national income while lack of conducive business environment, high cost of doing business and lack of strong and consistent patent – law was among the factors that significantly negatively impact self – employment drive in the country. The study recommended that the government should create a conducive business environment and work towards reduction of the high cost of doing business as a way of encouraging youths into self - employment. Keywords : Self – employment, perception, contribution, standard of living, youths DOI : 10.7176/JPID/51-05 Publication date: November 30 th 2019
Highlights
The promotion of entrepreneurship as a possible source of job creation, empowerment and economic dynamism in a rapidly globalised world has attracted increasing policy and intellectual attention in recent years (Lindh, 2017; Pollard & Wilson, 2013; Reid & Ferguson, 2011)
Only 57.0% of the youths agreed that self - employment development among young people is high and agreed with the findings of Ogunrinola (2011) who found 55% owner operators in his study and was slightly higher than the 50% observed in Statistics Sweden (2006 cited in Bjuggren, Johansson, & Stenkula, 2010) and significantly higher that 42% found by Margolis (2014) in developing countries including some selected Sub
The study found that the development of self – employment will significantly improve the standard of living and growth of the economy which aligned with findings from other reseraches Tsvetkova, Partridge, & Betz, 2016; Fields, 2014; Goetz & Rupasingha, 2013; Bashir, Gebremedhin, & Fletcher, 2011; Startienė & Remeikienė, 2013)
Summary
The promotion of entrepreneurship as a possible source of job creation, empowerment and economic dynamism in a rapidly globalised world has attracted increasing policy and intellectual attention in recent years (Lindh, 2017; Pollard & Wilson, 2013; Reid & Ferguson, 2011). The loss of jobs, global economic downturn that made many businesses fail resulting in downsizing and other tough management decisions has made entrepreneurial spirit an alternate to paid employment (corporate or public). Despite the attention generated, youth unemployment is steadily rising. There has been no systematic attempt to find the balance between the education of the young people and their entrepreneurial spirit (mindset) in addressing the problem of youth unemployment. Youth self - employment is a fairly new yet growing field in the world of development programs. There is a growing interest in the provision of micro-finance for youth because it is recognised that education and training on their own do not usually lead to a sustainable selfemployment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call