Determining Factors for Entrepreneurial Intentions of Technical and Vocational Students: The Case of Jimma Poly Technical College

Abstract

It has always been the interest of our government to promote entrepreneurship and new venture in business as a means to enhance economic growth for the nation and creating jobs to help to solve the problem of unemployment. The objective of this study is to examine the entrepreneurial intentions of Technical and Vocational students and determining factors for entrepreneurial intentions at Jimma poly technical college in the Jimma town. The sample size for the study was 136 comprising of 101(74.30%) males and 35(25.70%) females. In the study, quantitative research method was used. Primary data was obtained using questionnaires and Secondary data was collected from books, journals, past research works, official documents and the internet. Random sampling was used to select proportional number of samples from the study area. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software and frequency, percentages, regression and correlation were done. 16 to 20 age groups were the majority of age groups attended on the study. 47.1% of the participants were from business background and has positive correlation with entrepreneurial intentions. Gender was negatively correlated with the dependent variable. Analysis was made using linear regression in that R square indicates independents variables varied from dependent by 0.173. There is a significant association between governmental policies towards entrepreneurial intention that has positive correlation with training. Age, Risk taking, governmental support or police and access to finance, was positively correlated with entrepreneurial intention except gender. Family business background, Locus of control, Needs of achievements and Training were the influencing variables of the entrepreneurial intention. It is better for Jimma town youth administrator to give training for the youths