The Impact of Youth Self-Employment Behavior on Socio-Economic Development in Rwanda

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the impact of youth self-employment behavior on socio-economic development in Rwanda specifically in Nyarugenge sector. It was conducted with the following specific objectives: To examine the youth self-employment behavior; to analyze the socio-economic impact of youth self-employment behavior; to evaluate challenges limiting self-employment behavior among the youth and to propose solutions to challenges facing the youth self-employment behavior in Nyarugenge sector. In order to carry out this study, different methods and techniques were used. The data were collected using questionnaire, interview, and documentation techniques. Results were collected from 96respondents selected from the entire population composing Nyarugenge sector using simple random and purposive Sampling techniques and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results show that 98% have agreed that self-employment enables them to earn a living and 90.6% agreed that self-employment help to develop their economy while 87.5% of the agreed that this self-employment enable them to cater for the family needs. Secondly, the results indicated 100% of agreed that self-employment for the youth help to create new jobs and 100% agreed that self-employment enable people to improve their socio-economic status and encourages the saving culture as well as reducing the youth dependence to the government. Furthermore, results show that 100% confirmed that youth self-employment behavior increases the government revenues and 98% of the respondents have said that youth self-employment behavior reduces the government expenditure while 96.9% agreed that youth self-employed increases the competitiveness of the human capital. However, challenges weed identified such as lack of start-up capital, lack of training, commitment and creativity among some of the youth. On this, point the study has also proposed solutions such as provision of entrepreneurship training to the youth, provision of youth enterprises development fund and sensitizing the youth about self-employment behavior. Finally, recommendations were formulated to the youth such as increasing committed to start their own employments, gather in cooperatives in order to consolidate their efforts and be eligible to get loan opportunities and increase training and other learning opportunities in order to develop skills which are needed in self-employment. Finally, topics for future researches were suggested for instance to analyze the impact of youth forum on socio-economic development; examine the contribution of youth initiatives on eradication of youth delinquency and assess the role of the youth on socio-economic development.