Attitudes of Undergraduate Students Towards Self-employment in Yemen Public Universities

Abstract

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the intention of undergraduate students towards self-employment has not been yet studied in Yemen. We aimed to study the intentions of undergraduate students towards self-employment as a career choice. Since most literature agrees that future intention towards self-employment can be determined by using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), this theory is used as a theoretical framework in this study. A questionnaire survey was completed by a random sample (n = 451) of university students, undergraduate level, at one of the major public universities in Yemen. Results were based on descriptive analysis and multivariate statistical analysis including crosstabs, bivariate correlation and binary logistic regressions. Results of correlation test indicates that there are positive and significant correlations between dependent variable students’ intention to be self-employed and independent variables; entrepreneurial awareness (r = .338, n = 401, P < .00) and attitude (r =.569, n = 401, P < .00), whereas social norms variable, has derived low and not significant correlation value (r = .066, n = 373, P >.20). Binary logistic regression results showed that both variables, entrepreneurial awareness (ß = 2.154, p < 0.005) and attitude (ß = 3.117, p < 0.005), are significantly correlated with the students’ intention to start a business, whereas there is no significant correlation between the social norms and the students’ intention to start a business (ß = – 0.153, p > 0.744). Our study suggests that providing entrepreneurial capabilities among citizens may improve social norms toward entrepreneurship. The study also makes a valuable contribution to the under-researched context of Yemen entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Self-employment intention, Undergraduate students, Yemen, Theory of Reasoned Action.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-2-08

Publication date: January 31^st 2020