Work and Income for Young Men and Women in Africa: The Case of Uganda
Date
2022-08
Authors
Mutenyo, John
Buyinza, Faisal
Ssenono, Vincent F.
Asiimwe, Wilson
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
This study sets out to undertake an in-depth country study to establish the economic
sectors with the highest multipliers and potential to create employment opportunities
for the youth in Uganda. The study used Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS
2019/20) and the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM 2016/17) for Uganda. The study
employs descriptive analysis and multiplier approach together with regression
analysis by estimating a two-stage Heckman probit model. First, the study examines
the employment potential and linkages across the different sectors with decent
jobs for the youth using the multiplier analysis. Secondly, the study analyses youth
employment using full time equivalent in sectors taking into account gender issues
by estimating probit and Tobit-Heckman two-stage regression models. This study
finds that more female youth are employed in non-farm self-employment activities,
while male youth are mainly employed in non-farm wage activities. In addition, the
study finds that farm agricultural work employs most of the youth than other sectors.
Furthermore, the results show that off-farm self-work is a significant source of youth
employment in all regions. The regression findings show that youth employment is
strongly related to their education attainment, skill attainment, and residence of the
youth. This highlights the need for policy makers to be cognizant of the rural-urban
gradient, skilling and reskilling of the youth in sector-specific skills for potential decent
job creation. Also, there is need for the promotion of value addition and supporting
agro-processing and import substitution, specifically firms that use local inputs, so
as to create employment opportunities for the youth.