Validation of the UWES in assessing work engagement of the own-account informal entrepreneurs

Abstract

Background: Work engagement assesses physical, psychological and emotional states of the worker. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES)-9 is one of the most used and few valid instruments in assessing the engagement of the worker at different professions in the formal sector. It is strange because globally, most of the labour force is in the informal sector, and the UWES has not been validated to assess the engagement of the worker in the informal sector. These workers are not provided with the social security at work.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the validity of UWES-9 in assessing the engagement of the self-employed entrepreneur in the informal sector. These workers do not have access to work, social protection and security.

Setting: The study was conducted in the City of Tshwane, the capital city of South Africa, which experienced a proliferation in the number of self-employed informal entrepreneurs.

Methods: The study was quantitative, with data collected through a face-to-face interviewer-administrated survey questionnaire from a convenience-selected sample of respondents.

Results: The study had 405 respondents. The UWES is valid for assessing the engagement of self-employed informal entrepreneurs, with their work not providing social security.

Conclusion: The study concluded that UWES has acceptable validity for assessing the work engagement of self-employed informal entrepreneurs.

Contribution: The study contributed new knowledge in the field of positive psychology by validating UWES. The instrument can be used to conduct studies for the development of the informal sector of the economy, which is the biggest global employer.