Rural Youth and Employment in Ethiopia Article Swipe
YOU?
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· 2019
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198848059.003.0005
· OA: W2589855527
Ethiopia’s economy remains at a very early stage in its structural transformation. A puzzle presents itself as to how such growth can be maintained given its relatively low urbanization rate and its reliance on the agricultural sector as the primary form of employment. This chapter examines labour diversification in Ethiopia, focusing on youth, and explores current conditions that youth face in both the agricultural and nonfarm labour markets. Using data from the Ethiopia Socioeconomy Survey (ESS) and the National Labour Force Survey (NFLS), we explore current trends in labour diversification, along with youth nonfarm engagement in rural and small towns. We find that youth (ages 25 to 34 years) have a greater probability of working in nonfarm enterprises compared to mature individuals (age 35–64). However, wage labour opportunities remain scant in rural Ethiopia. The majority of individuals working in nonfarm employment are engaged in small-scale trade activities.
