The role of information communication technology (ICT) small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in job creation in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

This study examined the role of information communication technology (ICT) small and medium enterprises (SMEs) toward job creation in Kampala Uganda through a quantitative survey research design. The study mainly centered on the jobs created by small and medium size enterprises that provided ICT service and/or ICT based products. Primary data were collected using a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings indicate that airtime retailing, phone repair and mobile money created most of the jobs (34, 19 and 17% respectively). Majority of ICT SMEs (73%) employed 1-5 people and most jobs created were for Technicians (40%) and Sales representatives (35%) while very few of the jobs were in software development (2%). The findings further indicate that 75% of the jobs created were in lower level of the management hierarchy while only 8% were top level jobs. In terms of salary, most employees of ICT SMEs in Kampala earned Ush.100,000- Ush.200,000 a month (43%), while only 5% earned Ush.1M and above.