Title
The Dynamics of Job Creation and Job Destruction in an African Economy: Evidence from Ethiopia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 11-2013
Abstract
A growing share of manufacturing in GDP and in employment is a common feature observed in successful developing countries. Manufacturing, however, has not been a major source of employment in Ethiopia and in other Sub-Saharan African countries. This paper relies on a unique census-based panel data covering the period 1996-2007 to analyse the micro-dynamics of aggregate employment changes. The analysis shows that the weak employment performance of Ethiopian manufacturing is not due to limited job creation but a consequence of simultaneous offsetting processes of job creation and destruction. We find strong evidence of intra-industry job mobility and attribute a substantial proportion of job creation and destruction to firm entry and exit. However, jobs created by small firms tend to be transitory and there has been a re-allocation of jobs from small to larger firms during periods of faster aggregate net employment growth. Overall, the evidence suggests that employment growth and job re-allocation are not necessarily restrained by labour laws and regulations.
Journal Title
Journal of African Economics
DOI
10.1093/jae/ejt006
Volume
22
Issue
5
Recommended Citation
Shiferaw, A., Bedi, A.(2013). The dynamics of job creation and job destruction in an African economy: evidence from Ethiopia. Journal of African Economics, 22(5), 651-692. 10.1093/jae/ejt006