mpact of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises on Employment Generation in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the major problems facing Nigeria today is unemployment. Establishment of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) is largely seen as a possible panacea to ameliorating the impact of unemployment in the society. This study examined the impact of SMEs on employment generation in Plateau State, Nigeria. Survey research method was adopted. A sample of one hundred and thirty three (133) small business owners was drawn from the population. The chi-square technique was employed for the analysis of the data collected. The findings show that SMEs have significant impact on employment generation in Plateau State through increased expansion of markets for local goods and services, improved economic growth and development, and a reduction in the unemployment problems of the state. It concludes that SMEs remains one of the most viable tools for job creation in Plateau State. In view of this, the study made some useful and practical recommendations to be adopted in order to encourage SMEs for greater employment generation. Among these are implementation of power sector reforms and stabilization of the power sector; control of religious, ethnic and political crisis; development of infrastructure such as roads, schools and vocational training centres.