Self-employment Opportunities Research Articles

Self-employment and Sustainable Development-Using the ICT Solutions for Greening Economic Activity

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are continuously and rapidly evolving, and these developments can have diverse consequences. ICT solutions are ubiquitous across all sectors of the economy. From a scholarly perspective, it is intriguing to observe the areas of economic activity where ICT solutions are deployed and how these solutions can contribute to the gradual transition of the economy towards sustainability. This article reports on original research aimed at individuals seeking green self-employment opportunities through the utilization of ICT. The study considers the perspective of this specific group of people and the issue of sustainable development as it discusses ICT solutions. Thus, the article identifies two interrelated, equal, and complementary objectives. The first objective is to determine the main areas where individuals seeking green self-employment use ICT solutions. The second objective is to investigate whether ICT solutions can foster the creation of green self-employment opportunities. To achieve these objectives, the study conducts a qualitative analysis of documents that describe economic activities. These documents served as the basis for applying for funding to start a business between 2019 and 2022. Specifically 603 application forms were analyzed. The study identifies key barriers to the implementation of ICT solutions in creating self-employment opportunities and highlights future implications and areas of development for ICT solutions that focus on green self-employment.

Impact of Community Extension Entrepreneurial Programs on the Women’s Association in Barangay Communal, Cabanatuan City

The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), one of the Philippines' state universities, performs four major functions: instruction, research, extension, and production. The study sought to determine the project's impact on those who received extension services as well as the economic, social, and environmental effects of those services provided by the Atate Campus over the previous five (5) years (2017-2022). This involved twenty-five (25) extension beneficiaries or members of the Samahan ng Kababaihan (Women’s Association), in Brgy Communal, Cabanatuan City who participated in the descriptive survey reseach design. Findings revealed that majority of the members of the said association were married, high school graduates, with two (2) children, and unemployed. The project's outcome had the biggest impact on how the extension services affected the aforementioned participants. Environmental impact was minimal compared to the moderate effects of the economic and social factors. As the outcome of the project improved the lives of the group members by gaining employment, establishing small business, and creating self-employment opportunities using the knowledge and skills gained during the entrepreneurial training. It is suggested that long-term relevant projects be implemented in order to sustain the vigor of the entrepreneurial spirit developed through the extension program.

Role of MUDRA Yojana in financing women entrepreneurs in India

After agriculture, microenterprises are a major economic segment that provides large employment opportunities. According to the 2021–2021 annual report for MSMEs [micro, small, and medium enterprises], there were 630.52 lakhs of microenterprises, 1076.19 lakhs of people gained employment opportunities, and 30.27% to India’s GDP came from these microenterprises. Microfinance is the tool to reduce poverty and income inequality and to provide financial services for self-employment opportunities to underprivileged citizens in both rural and urban areas. To promote gender equality and entrepreneurial spirit, it is necessary to finance women’s empowerment. PMMY [Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana] and MUDRA [Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd.] by the Government of India aims at providing financial support to the NCSBS [Non-Corporate Small Business Sector]. Usually these sectors operate as unregistered enterprises and are not covered under taxation, and they face a lack of financial support from banks and other financial institutions. MSE borrower accounts stood at 5.37 crore rupees, with a financial support of 32.14 crore rupees as of 2021– 2022. MUDRA provides refinance to microenterprises through various financial institutions like private sector banks, public sector banks, co-operatives, and MFIs [Micro Finance Institutions]. This article aims to understand the background of MUDRA Yojana, the activities covered, the schemes under MUDRA Yojana, and the overall performance of MUDRA Yojana in financing women entrepreneurs in India. MUDRA has come up with various digital supports that enable the entrepreneurs to access various financial needs.

Effect of institutional support and entrepreneurial knowledge on women’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy and venture performance in a developing country

PurposeWomen’s entrepreneurship has become an essential movement in developing economies and is accepted in all working areas. This study aims to propose the effect of institutional support (IS) and entrepreneurial knowledge (ENK) on women’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy (WESE) and venture performance (VP) in a developing country, namely, Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe constructive theoretical framework comprises of an extensive review of current literature. In this study, the researchers used a deductive approach that used cross-sectional data collected through women entrepreneurs completing a questionnaire. Consequently, this study comprised 324 usable samples.FindingsThe structural equation model reveals that formal institutional support (FIS), informal institutional support (IFIS) and ENK have a positive and significant effect on WESE that is concerned with the VP. Finally, WESE is a potent construct that mediates the association between FIS, IFIS, ENK and VP.Practical implicationsThis study’s findings provide policymakers and government with guidance so that, by providing entrepreneurship and technical courses to develop more entrepreneurial self-efficacy, they focus more on women’s entrepreneurship. Ultimately, this improves VP. Finally, this study’s findings would provide guidelines for allocating financial assistance or funds for women. By using these funds, they can start their businesses to tackle miserable conditions, i.e. poverty and unemployment.Originality/valueThis study’s findings help to support the creation of self-employment opportunities and starting a business to improve well-being and socioeconomic conditions.

Does industry convergence between agriculture and related sectors alleviate rural poverty: evidence from China.

Enhancing the synergies between agriculture and related sectors in rural areas is considered an important development strategy to eliminate rural poverty. This article provides evidence for this view by analyzing the effect of industry convergence between agriculture and related sectors on rural poverty. Based on China’s provincial panel data, we use two-way fixed effects model, system generalized method of moments and panel-corrected standard error estimator to quantitatively assess this effect. We find that: (1) the convergence of agriculture and tourism (ATOU), the convergence of agriculture and processing industry (APOS), and the convergence of planting and breeding industry (MIXA) have positive and significant effects on poverty reduction. The convergence of agriculture and the internet industry (AINT) has a positive but not significant effect. (2) Rural local employment plays an important role as a bridge in the impact of convergence on poverty reduction. ATOU and MIXA reduce poverty by increasing self-employment opportunities. APOS reduces poverty by providing more jobs. (3) Except for APOS, the effects of other types of convergence tend to stabilize or improve in the later period. (4) Convergence has the most significant impact on poverty reduction in western China. The findings provide inspiration for developing countries with agricultural foundations to choose appropriate rural development paths for reducing rural poverty.

Impact of earnings and self-employment opportunities on overeducation: evidence from occupations in the United States labor market 2002-2016

ABSTRACT This is an applied econometric analysis of labour market data for the United States. We study the impact of several factors on overflow of overeducated employees into various job categories. We use panel data regression analysis with fixed and random effects. We also use data visualisation to investigate the overeducation trends during 2002–2016 for various occupation categories. Our dataset consists of seven sets of annual data for 704 occupations. We investigate this phenomenon at two levels: 1) overflow of university graduates into occupations that do not require a university degree, and 2) overflow of Masters and PhD degree holders into occupations that require a bachelor’s degree or less. We observe that the overeducation has increased in most occupations and it causes a crowding out effect; an adequately educated worker might be outcompeted by an overeducated worker. While the income premium of a university education has decreased over time, the income advantage of university education over a high school degree has persisted. Furthermore, our regression analysis has shown that the overeducation ratio has a positive correlation with the median earnings of an occupation and its opportunities for self-employment. The results hold for both college graduates and holders of graduate degrees.

Linking human capabilities with livelihood strategies to speed poverty reduction: Evidence from Rwanda

Acute land scarcity in Rwanda limits poor people’s ability to accumulate and move out of poverty. Options for livelihood diversification are restricted by the absence of a vibrant and job-rich non-farm rural economy, and by high rural–urban inequality which makes the urban economy somewhat inaccessible, particularly given the regulated nature of the urban informal sector, limiting opportunities for migration. Competition for employment is made more challenging by low capabilities, which place high-return jobs beyond reach for many poor people. This paper relies on mixed methods research to explore a land-education-jobs nexus and identify the linked human capital and livelihood determinants of poverty escapes to understand the factors slowing poverty reduction in Rwanda. The quantitative analysis uses three waves of nationally representative panel data between 2010/11 and 2016/17 to investigate correlates of poverty trajectories. The qualitative analysis uses content analysis to explore life histories, focus group discussions and key informant interviews from 14 study sites to explore factors driving change in livelihoods and well-being. Our findings show that the triple challenges of acute land scarcity, low capabilities and a sluggish non-farm economy lock together to form a nexus which limits sustained poverty escapes. In the regression analysis, households headed by primary school graduates are half as likely to be poor as those headed by a primary school dropouts while secondary completion or higher virtually eliminates the risk of poverty. Despite demand, secondary school completion in the fieldwork is beyond the reach of most children from poor households, limiting their later options for livelihood diversification. Near landlessness constrains accumulation and Rwanda’s thin rural non-farm economy provides few jobs or opportunities for self-employment. Rebooting poverty reduction in Rwanda particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic will require finding ways to sustain poverty escapes through fuelling job-rich ‘growth from below’ by generating additional demand in the rural economy, continuing to boost agricultural productivity and including even the poorest peasant farmers in that, creating a more conducive business environment for small enterprises and continuing to stimulate investment in job-rich enterprise. Underpinning these strategies should be strengthened efforts to enhance capabilities, education quality, and progression into secondary education.

Self-employment: a means to reduce poverty in developing countries?

PurposeWith self-employment providing earning opportunities to many working poor in developing countries, the study examines its role in alleviating poverty.Design/methodology/approachA five-year average of 56 developing countries from 1995–2019 is used. The empirical analysis is based on the dynamic two-step system GMM approach. While poverty is measured in terms of incidence, depth and severity; self-employment is used in three forms – total, male and female.FindingsIn line with the theoretical prediction, evidence suggests that self-employment in developing countries reduces poverty, albeit smaller magnitude. However, the poverty-reducing effects of self-employment differed based on poverty measure and threshold. The poverty-reducing effects are more prominent in poverty severity than incidence and intensity, and the magnitude of the impact is largest when poverty is measured at $1.90 a day as against $3.20 and $5.50 a day. Finally, the poverty-reducing effects of female self-employment are lower than their counterparts.Practical implicationsFirst, poverty-mitigating strategies in developing countries are advised to recognise self-employment as an essential tool to alleviate poverty. Consequently, alongside supporting the existing self-employed, policy focus should be on creating more and better self-employment opportunities for the poor. Second, rather than using generic measures to mitigate poverty, interventions specific to poverty measures and thresholds might ensure the maximum impact of such interventions. Third, gender-specific rather than gender-neutral labour market policies in addressing poverty are advised.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine the empirical relationship between self-employment and poverty. As such, it makes novel contributions to both labour and development economics.

"Austin's most prosperous colored men": Freedmen Builders and Craftsmen in Austin, Texas, 1870–1900

After emancipation, building trades-related occupations dominated those held by African American males in Austin, Texas (as well as many a Texas or US city). Little to nothing is known about these men, however. This paper explores how the architectural contributions of African American craftsmen and builders to the development of urban and rural communities can be brought to light by using Austin, Texas, as a case study. The identities and roles of African American craftsmen and builders, when interpreted through the lens of disparate sources, enable historians to reintroduce and reconsider their legacy. This paper explores who these men were, the building-related firms that employed them, their opportunities for self-employment, and the historic and current state of various buildings they erected throughout the city, especially in former freedmen communities that face rampant gentrification today. The methods by which this legacy is reconstructed—visual analysis of built works and examination of a variety of archival sources—allow for creation of an expanded historic context that is necessary for situating late nineteenth century African American builders in the canon of American architectural history.

Impact of Vocational Training Programme toward Rural Women Conducted by KVK in Korea District of Chhattisgarh

KVKs impart trainings and education with a view to raise the level of knowledge, attitudinal changes and testing and transferring of recommended improved farm technologies so as to bridge the gap between production and productivity and also to increase self-employment opportunities among the farming community. Rural Women in India, contributing 25% of GDP, is increasingly becoming a Female Activity. The present study was an attempt to evaluate the impact of training on its beneficiaries with reference to know the extent of success in raising the income of beneficiaries. For attaining the objectives, the present investigation was carried out in Baikunthpur block of Koriya district, Chhattisgarh. A total of 60 trainees and 60 non-trainees were selected as sample for the study. The data were collected by personal interview with the help of structured and pre-tested schedule. Percentage and other statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Age, educational status, land holding, number of training attended and progressiveness had significant relation with income and employment generation. Size of family, occupation, annual income, extension participation and risk bearing capacity had non-significant relation with income and employment generation.

Analyzing the Aftermath of PSB A Voyage of Msme in Tamilnadu

Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a pivotal role in the nation's economic growth. These enterprises have been emerged as a vibrant and competitive segment of the Indian economy over the last five decades1. Small and medium-sized enterprises not only play a key role in large-scale sector of creating self-employment opportunities at relatively lower capital costs than large enterprises, but also help to industrialize rural and backward areas, thereby reducing regional imbalances, ensuring a more equal distribution of national incomes, and abundance2. These enterprises reinforce the national industries as ancillary units and this sector contributes enormously to the socio-economic growth of the country. This paper indicates to show how the role of these enterprise strengthens and creates among the youth and passionate people for self-employment opportunity to make them entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu and contribute for the economic development in Tamilnadu3.

Are push and pull factors for entrepreneurship and brain drain same? Perception of students and professionals

Brain drain has gained attention since past few decades, this phenomenon is very apparent in Pakistan as number of people applying for immigration is increasing day by day. Although there are many measures that can be taken to reduce the process, however the best one in current local scenario is developing a safe and sound entrepreneurial niche. This study aims to provide causes of brain drain and preventive measures for this. Secondary aim of the study is to identify opinion of respondents about significance for using self-employment opportunities as solution for slowing the process of brain drain. Third this study will try to examine the relationship between factors causing brain drain and barriers preventing self-employment as career choice. Sample of the study was divided into two strata. First group consisted of 25 respondents from five high-notch professions including medicine and engineering. Second part of the sample was 20 students from doctoral (PhD), masters, medicine and engineering classes. A self developed instrumentwas be used to collect data. It is a semi-structured interview schedule for taking responses of first two segments of sample. Data was analyzed by using thematic analysis to achieve objectives of the study. It is evident that factors that are causing brain drain are almost same as those serving as barrier for adopting entrepreneurship as career choice. The officials can control brain drain by establishing entrepreneurial niche.

Entrepreneurial education on skills acquisition for university graduates in Nigeria

The rate of unemployment among graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria is still on the alarming level, with a large number of graduates relying on government jobs. Interaction with university graduates discovered that most of them did not possess the adequate skills and knowledge needed to personally engage in entrepreneurial ventures. The yardstick that will lead to the realization of the objectives of entrepreneurial education is not translated into practical realities, right from the policy implementation to the transmission of the knowledge and skills desirable for practical application in the real-life business. Hence, this study aimed at providing the graduates with essential skills and knowledge required for empowering them to establish businesses of their own. This, therefore, enabled the graduates to become self-employed and self-reliant for a sustainable livelihood, and socio-economic development in the society. Entrepreneurial education is determined to inculcate the entrepreneurial spirits, amongst especially the graduates to start thinking of setting up their own businesses for self-employment instead of relying on the government for the white-collar jobs. Thus, this study will highlight the impact of entrepreneurial education on skills acquisition for preparing the graduates into a successful occupational career. This paper is a library-based collection of data using textbooks, journal articles, and various research websites from the internet, by identifying and gathering relevant and reliable information that serves the purpose for which it is intended. The study has 4 objectives in the form of questions the answer to which vividly indicates the pertinent nature and benefits of entrepreneurship on entrepreneurial skills acquisition by the graduates in setting-up their own businesses. The study portrayed that entrepreneurship education can provide indispensable entrepreneurial skills required by the graduates to pursue and engage in entrepreneurial activities. In conclusion, this study is capable of providing the graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, determine and pursue new business opportunities for self-employment and self-reliance, which lead to the realization of economic self-independence in the society on one hand and the country at large on the other hand.

WORM'S-EYE VIEW ON ‘AGRICLINICS AND AGRIBUSINESS CENTRES SCHEME’ (ACABC) OVER A DECADE IN CONTEXT TO MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Six decades ago, Mahatma Gandhi observed, "Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy." The scenario is still the same now, with agriculture, which is the mainstay of the communities, supporting practically the whole economy. It accounts for around 52 per cent of the Indian population's employment and generates 16 per cent of the country's overall GDP. The rapid growth of agriculture is necessary not just for self-sufficiency but also to earn crucial foreign exchange. Despite the fact that millions of farmers are marginal and small, Indian farmers are unrivalled in terms of production and productivity. They are just as quick to accept improved agricultural technologies as farmers in rich countries. It is believed that by providing timely and enough inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides, as well as making reasonable agricultural loans and crop insurance available, Indian farmers will secure the nation's food and nutritional security. As a result, on April 9, 2002, the ‘Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres' plan was created to increase technology transfer and extension services, as well as provide self-employment opportunities to technically skilled people. Herein after, we imagined the state of Madhya Pradesh from a worm's-eye perspective, which is a view of a scheme from below, as if the observer were a worm; it can be used to make an object appear big, strong, and mighty while the viewer feels childish or helpless. So, we here go through the actual facts by covering about the scheme, NTIs, trained candidates &venture established.

Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Livestock Entrepreneurs of Karnataka- A Socio-economic Analysis

India owns the largest livestock population in the world and it is bestowed with huge and diverse livestock resources. The animal husbandry sector provides large self-employment opportunities and is proved to be a boon for sustaining the livelihood of the resource poor farmers. A study was undertaken to analyze the socioeconomic and psychological profile of livestock entrepreneurs in Karnataka state. Four divisions viz. Bengaluru division, Mysuru division, Belagavi division and Kalaburagi division were selected for the study. A total of 160 livestock entrepreneurs were randomly selected and data were collected using structured interview schedule. The analysis of socio economic and psychological profile revealed that majority (58.75%) of the livestock entrepreneurs were of middle age group (35-50 years), and more than three forth (78.13%) of the livestock entrepreneurs are male. With respect education 36.88 per cent of them had middle school education and half (50.63%) of the entrepreneurs belonged to small family size(less than 6 members). Majority (56.88%) of the livestock entrepreneurs had animal husbandry as their major occupation with 43.75 per cent of the respondents had medium landholding (2-3 acres of land). More than half (51.25%) of the respondents had medium livestock possession and 45.63 per cent of the entrepreneurs had an annual income of more than Rs.4,00,001. Majority (53.75%) of the livestock entrepreneurs had (5 to 10 years) medium level of experience in livestock entrepreneurship. Majority of the respondent dairy farmers had medium economic motivation and scientific orientation. The study concludes that livestock entrepreneurs had different socioeconomic status due to varied attributes possessed by them.

COVID-19 economic response measures and entrepreneurial activities: a study of micro-enterprises in Nigeria

Nigeria witnessed an economic downturn in 2009 due to the global financial crisis and in 2016 as a result of the global oil price crash. The Nigerian economy was resuscitating from the economic recession before the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic and its curtail measures. Most private and government firms laid-off their workers, while others had their staff salaries. The sustaining business operations in this era may be extremely difficult due to lack of funds for self-employment, start-up ventures, innovations or new market opportunities. With the help of the Central Bank the government rowed out some monetary and fiscal measures referred to in the study as Economic Responses Measures (ERM). The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between COVID-19 ERM and the Entrepreneurial Activity (EA) of micro business. It has been stated that COVID-19 ERM provide innovations, self-employment, start-up and new market creation activities of micro-enterprises in Nigeria. An exploratory survey was done on 294 randomly selected samples from micro-enterprises (retail, ICT, manufacturing and artisans) across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The result proves empirically that COVID-19 ERM does not have a significantly positive relationship with the EA of micro-businesses in Nigeria. The implication of this finding therefore suggests that many micro-businesses may not have accessed these ERM or do not embark in EA. There is highlighted the importance of government support to micro-businesses and also provided new dimensions for the measures of micro-business EA.

Housewives and Virtual Market Shop during the Coronavirus Pandemic: Insight from Women's Empowerment Process

Covid-19 pandemic, the coronavirus disease, has negatively impacted the economy, especially for underprivileged individuals and informal sector workers that lost their jobs due to strict government policies. Consequently, they have encountered difficulties in making ends meet for their families. This research aims to describe the efforts made by housewives and their impact on supporting life needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. To respond to this question, the analysis uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. So that, this study shows that the several efforts do homemakers for building virtual markets, optimizing skills, and creating businesses for cooperating parties. It is for the income problem of insufficient capital and avoids a loss. Moreover, those efforts have an impact on creating self-employment opportunities and on the sustainability of family income.

Specifics of coping strategies for ethnic differences among freelancers

The article deals with «stress», based on the model of interaction between a person and the environ- ment, as a response to the lack of correspondence between the capabilities of the individual and the requirements of the environment, where R. Lazarus refers to the cognitive model of psychological stress. According to the Lazarus model, stress is considered as a combination of external factors and internal manifestations, as an indirect relationship of a person to a situation. Therefore, this article has studied the features of freelancing, one of the new types of work. The author analyzes the features of new ways of remote employment / self-employment opportunities, in particular, Internet work and its study in other sciences and in psychological science. Various surveys and studies conducted among freelancers show that the main problem is ensuring a constant workload, financial factors, intensive and uneven workload, irregular working hours, working in a multitasking environment, a high level of responsibility, the need to constantly learn and master a variety of related competencies, be constantly on the lookout, manage customer relationships and ensure a continuous workflow. Using the experimental method i.e. The method of the Lazarus coping test investigated the coping strategies of individuals of different ethnic groups engaged in freelancing activities, and also revealed the relationship of the same coping strategies  with the characteristics of the ethnic group of respondents. A mathematical statistical analysis of the results of the study, as well as a discussion, was conducted. A total of 60 respondents (N=60) who are freelancers of the Kazakh ethnic group (N1=30) and freelancers of the Russian ethnic group (N2=30) took part. It was found that between the two ethnic groups there is a specific use of coping strategies and a discussion on the issue was held. Key words: stress, coping, freelancer, ethnos, Internet employment, Mann-Whitney U-test.

Adequacy, utilization and repayment of society for social service credit on poor women of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

The present study was an attempt to assess adequacy, utilization and repayment of Society for Social Service (SSS) credit on women beneficiaries. Interviewing 90 respondents randomly selected from five villages of Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. The study revealed that both annual income and expenditure of the respondent households have increased after joining the micro credit program of SSS. Average annual income of agriculture and petty business enterprises are Tk. 80726.57 and 74864.14 respectively while average annual expenditure of agriculture and petty business enterprises are Tk. 78776.65 and 67912.37 respectively. Overall annual savings of agriculture and petty business enterprises are Tk. 3733.25 and 8475.09 respectively. Moreover, the women are better at present in respect of social awareness, freedom of attitude, financial freedom and also exercising their right in decision making activities. The study identified some crucial problems such as lack of adequate credit, high rate of interest, burden of old debt, lack of storage and marketing facilities, lack of improved seeds/breed and low price of their products, etc. The findings suggest that the amount of credit should be provided in accordance with their requirement, reduced interest rate and arranging for reasonable price of their products. Finally it was concluded that the SSS credit program benefited the women beneficiaries in respect of increasing income, creating self-employment opportunity, improving social status and at least in reducing the poverty from the study area. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2021, 5 (1), 1-10

When and Where Residential Racial Segregation Matters for the Black Self-employment Rate

Scholars debate whether residential racial segregation associates positively, negatively, or at all with the Black self-employment rate in the United States. This study engages that debate using data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) 1980, 1990, and 2000 5% sample and 2006–2010 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year sample. Specifically, I investigate the county-level association between residential racial segregation and the Black self-employment rate, and whether this association varied by region in 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010. Using fractional logit models and net of control variables, I find that residential racial segregation positively predicts Black self-employment in the South. Implications for understanding how time and region condition Black self-employment opportunities are discussed.