Determinants of Rural Youth Participation in Non-Farm Employment: The Case of Ubadebretsehay Woreda, Gofa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the determinants of participation of the rural youth in non-farm employment in Ubadebretsehay Woreda of Gofa zone, Ethiopia. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 136 respondents from five rural Kebeles. Interview schedule, key informants interview, focus group discussions were employed for primary data collection. The Binary logistic and Tobit regression models were used. The binary logit model results revealed that marital status, experience of non- farm employment and educational status of the youth, economically productive household size, land holding size and livestock holding of the youth’s family, distance from the main market and business advisory service significantly affected the participation status of youth in nonfarm employment. Likewise, educational status, economically productive size, live stockholding of youth family, experience of non-farm employment and amount of money borrowed have statistically significant and positive effect on share of income from non-farm employment whereas land holding size of youth’s family, marital status and distance from main market have statistically significant and negative effect. Rural infrastructures like electrification and roads as well as design of special package programs are necessary to improve participation of the youth in non-farm employment.

Keywords: Rural Youth, Non-farm, Participation

DOI: 10.7176/JPID/63-03

Publication date: January 31^st 2024