B. Estimated results of the employment models

The probit models with selection are estimated to investigate the effect of disability on the probability of being employed (model 4) and being employed in the public sector (model 5). The correlation (ρ) between the errors of the two equations, labour force participation equation and the outcome equation, is significant, so we depend on the results from the probit models with selection.

The results in table 4 indicate that disability has a significant negative impact on the probability of being employed (model 4). In another version of this model containing the different types of disability, mobility and vision impairments tend to decrease the likelihood of being employed. In other words, vision impairments have no significant impact on labour force participation; however, once a person has entered the labour market (that is, attempts to enter the workforce), she/he is less likely to be employed. Moreover, disability has no significant impact on the likelihood of being employed in the public sector. In other words, persons with disabilities are less likely to enter the labour force and be employed, but once they are employed, disability is no longer a significant determinant concerning employment in the public sector (model 5).

As for the other variables, table 4 indicates that once females are in the labour force, they are less likely to be employed compared with males. If employed, they are more likely to work in the public sector. This latter result corresponds to what was found in the literature as the public sector is considered family friendly.

Concerning age, the older cohorts starting from ages 30 to 39 are more likely to be employed if compared with the youngest group. Once employed, they are more likely to be in the public sector. Moving to marital status (ages 15 to 64), the results show that being married or divorced/widowed has a significant positive impact on the probability of being employed compared with the never-married category. When employed, married people are more likely to work in the public sector.

Living in a rural area increases the likelihood of being employed and working in the public sector. As for the wealth quintiles, the results show that any level of wealth, except for the third quintile, increases the likelihood of being employed once in the labour market. If an individual is employed, wealth increases the probability of working in the public sector compared with the poorest quantile.

Surprisingly, once an individual is in the labour force, any education level decreases the likelihood of being employed versus unemployed, compared with being illiterate. This surprising result may require more investigation. Once employed, having any higher educational level significantly increases the probability of working in the public sector. Turning to economic activity, results show that any economic activity increases the likelihood of working in the public sector if compared with the agriculture sector.

Source: Calculated by the authors using ELMPS (2018).