The Influence of Demographic Factors on Agricultural Entrepreneurial Skills among Rural Youth in Sabah: A Mixed-Methods Study

Agricultural entrepreneurship has increasingly been recognised as a critical driver of rural socioeconomic development, particularly among youth who often face limited employment opportunities. This study aims to examine the influence of demographic factors on agricultural entrepreneurial skills among rural youth in Sabah using a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative phase involved 361 rural youths aged between 18 and 40 years, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire measuring youth knowledge and agricultural entrepreneurial skills and analysed using inferential statistics in SPSS. The findings revealed a strong and significant positive relationship between youth knowledge and agricultural entrepreneurial skills. Occupational background, both at the individual and family levels, was found to significantly influence skill development, with youths from self-employed or business-oriented families demonstrating higher levels of initiative, adaptability, and market awareness. The qualitative phase, which involved semi-structured interviews with six rural youths engaged in agricultural entrepreneurship, further revealed that socioeconomic classifications (B40, M40, and T20) play a substantial role in shaping entrepreneurial skills through differential access to capital, training, and networks. The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings provides a nuanced understanding of how demographic and socioeconomic factors jointly shape agricultural entrepreneurial competencies. These findings offer important implications for policymakers, training institutions, and development agencies in designing targeted, inclusive, and sustainable rural youth entrepreneurship programmes aligned with local realities.