Impact of Health Status and Education on Labour Force Participation in Botswana: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Impact of health and education on labour force participation in Botswana has been investigated for the period 1982-2013. The main findings were that; an increase of primary school enrolment increases the overall participation rate.  An increase in contemporaneous education expenditure increases the total labour force participation rate in the long-run but reduces their participation in the short-run. The study also shows that an increase in contemporaneous health expenditure increases the overall labour force participation rate increases in the long-run.  Finally, given the importance of health and education on labour force participation rate in Botswana, the study assert that it is of paramount importance for government to incorporate strategies that encourage her citizen to recognise the need to maintain good health and education. In absence of such recommendation, Botswana might find it difficult to achieve most of its vision 2016 and MDG’s goals.

Key Words: Government expenditure in Education, Government expenditure in Health, and Total Labour Force Participation