Assessing selected biographical factors and entrepreneurial willingness of social grant recipients

Abstract

Purpose: This primary aim of this study was to assess the relationship between selected demographic factors (age, gender, education and marital status) and the entrepreneurial willingness of social grant recipients, framed within Human Capital Theory.
Design/methodology/approach: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Quantitative data was collected in Johannesburg, Tshwane and rural Limpopo from 725 social grant recipients using structured questionnaires in 2021. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse relationships between demographic variables and entrepreneurial willingness.
Findings/results: The findings revealed that education and age were significantly associated with entrepreneurial willingness. Respondents with higher levels of education demonstrated stronger intentions to pursue self-employment, highlighting the importance of education in shaping entrepreneurial behaviour. Younger participants also showed higher entrepreneurial willingness, suggesting the relevance of age-specific interventions. No statistically significant relationships were found between gender or marital status and entrepreneurial willingness.
Practical implications: Policymakers can enhance entrepreneurial willingness among social grant recipients by strengthening access to entrepreneurship education, tailoring support to different age groups and linking grant programmes to entrepreneurial development pathways. Simplifying access to resources and encouraging experimentation may further promote self-employment and reduce long-term dependence on social grants.
Originality/value: This study contributes empirical evidence on how demographic factors relate to entrepreneurial willingness among South African social grant recipients, offering insights to inform targeted policy and programme design.