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Wollega University

College of Business and Economics

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Title: Self-employment of the Elderly and Disabled Persons in EasT Wollega Zone of Oromia Region: the case of Nekmte TOWN

 

                                    Abstract

Social policy agenda could be seen as integral part of the nation’s economy, contributing to economic growth, equity and sustainability and should not be treated as competing with economic resources. The elderly and disabled persons are the neglected citizens in the socio-economic transformations of many African countries including Ethiopia. As a result, these groups are forced to live in economically poor and precarious conditions. In light of this, this research paper refers to the determinants of self-employment of the elderly and disabled persons and existing gender differences within the groups.

A simple random sampling of households from both groups (selected purposively) was taken proportional to their size in the study area. Accordingly a total of 393 households (272 elderly and 121 disabled persons) were drawn and analyzed using both econometric and descriptive analysis. The study revealed that a substantial number of both elderly and disabled persons are engaged in income generating works equally with other healthy (active) citizens of the people in the area; at the same time indicating that a significant number from both groups still require further support/assistance to cope up with the highly competitive living condition.

Educational status (literacy level), credit use, asset ownership, age and health status of the households are the significant variables that affect participation in income generating activities in the case of the elderly households,  while  use of credit and better health condition are the significantly associated variables for the disabled households. The proportion of participation of female households is higher for both groups. There is discrepancy in annual income of female household heads among the groups compared to male headed households.

The study recommends support on enhancing their educational level, health condition and provision of credit to increase their engagement in income generating activities for the healthy (able to work) persons; and provision of a continuous assistance for the remaining households that are in bad health condition (from both the elderly and disabled households).

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Key words: Employment, Income Generating Activities, Determinants, Elderly, Disabled persons and Logit model.