COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

RURAL –URBAN MIGRATION ITS CAUSES AND IMPACT ON URBAN EMPLOYMENT

(IN CASE OF HARAR SUB-CITY TOWN)

SENIOR ESSAY SUBMITTED TO DEPATRMENT OF ECONOMICS FOR PARTIAL

FULFILLEMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR BACHLER ART OF DEGRE IN ECONOMICS

BY: TADESSA BEDADA. ID 1265/12

ADVISOR: FREZER

June,2015, Harar Ethiopia

Acknowledgement

Before and above all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to lity God for everything
that I have achieved throughout my life. Besides I would like to thanks all who have stood my side from
the preparation to completion of this research. Second gratitude was my advisor, Samson Abay for his
unreserved contribution by giving me advice, comment and suggestion in every aspect of this study. My
deepest thanks are also goes to my family especially to my father Ato Ayele Wakjira and my mother
W/ro Cheltu Bayecha. I would like to say thanks for his financial and moral supporting and unlimited
effort to educate me.

Final I wish to thanks for those who support me either by idea or material in order to accomplish this
paper.
Table contents page
Acknowledgment…………………………………………………………………………I
List of table……………………………………………………………………………………………...V

List of figure…………………………………………………………………………………………....VI

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………….V

CHAPTER ONE................................................................................................................1
1 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................1
1.1 background of the study................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem................................................................................................................2
1.3 Objective of the study.................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 General objective of the study..................................................................................................3
1.3.2 Specific objective of the study..................................................................................................3
1.4 Research questions...........................................................................................................................3
1.5 Scope of the study.............................................................................................................................3
1.6 Limitation of the study....................................................................................................................4
1.7 significance of the study...................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO...............................................................................................................5
2 LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................5
2.1 Theoretical review............................................................................................................................5
2.1.1 Definition Concept of Migration..............................................................................................5
2.1.2Causes of Rural- Urban Migration...........................................................................................5
2.1.2.1 Social Cause.......................................................................................................................................5
2.1.2.2 Physical and environmental factors................................................................................................6
2.1.2.3Economic causes.................................................................................................................................6
2.1.2.4 Poverty and lack opportunities in rural areas...............................................................................6
2.1.2.5 Urban job opportunities...................................................................................................................6
2.1.2.6 Urban informal sector......................................................................................................................7

II
 2.1.3 Benefit and cost of urbanization..............................................................................................7
2.1.3.1 Benefit......................................................................................................................................7
2.1.3.2 Costs.........................................................................................................................................7
2.1.4 Model of rural to urban migration..........................................................................................8
2.1.4.1 Migration and the dual sector model..............................................................................................8
2.1.4.2. Family /house hold migration.........................................................................................................9
2.1.4.3 Todaro migration model...................................................................................................................9
2.1.5 Positive and negative impact of migration............................................................................10
2.2 Empirical literature review...........................................................................................................10
2.2.1. Possible solution to improve the very serious rural to urban migration and situation in
less developed countries.............................................................................................................................11
2.2.2. Effect of rural-urban migration on urban employment.....................................................12
CHAPTER THREE.........................................................................................................14
3. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY........................................................................14
3.1 Description of the study area........................................................................................................14
3.2 Data type and Sources of the data................................................................................................14
3.3 Method of data collection..............................................................................................................14
3.4 Methods of data analysis...............................................................................................................14
3.5 Sampling techniques and sample sizes.........................................................................................15
3.8 Organization of the study..............................................................................................................15
CHAPTER FOUR...........................................................................................................16
4. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION........................................................16
4.1 Characteristics of the respondents...............................................................................................16
4.1.1 Sex structure of the respondents............................................................................................16
4.1.2 The age structure of respondents...........................................................................................16
4.1.3. The education level of the respondents................................................................................17
4.1.4. Marital status of the respondent...........................................................................................18
4.2. The reason for the decision to migrate to the Adigrat town.....................................................19
4.3 The impact of rural to urban migration on employment in the Adigrat towns.......................21
4.4 The problem that rural to urban migrants encountered in Adigrat........................................24
4.5 The Duration stays of migrants....................................................................................................24

III
CHAPTER FIVE..........................................................................................................28
5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.........................................................28
5.1 Conclusion..................................................................................................................28
5.2 Recommendation............................................................................................................................29

IV
List of table
Table 4.1 the distribution of sex……………………………………………………………………….14

Table 4.2 the distribution of age structure of the respondents……………………………………...15

Table 4.3 the distribution of education level of the respondents…………………………………….16

Table 4.4 the proportion marital status of the respondents…………………………………………17

Table 4.5 the proportional reason for the decision factor to migrate to the town………………….18

Table 4.6 Impact of rural to urban migration on urban employment……………………………19

Table 4.7 Distribution of rural to urban migrants in their duration of stay………………………..23

Table 4.8 whether the rural to urban migration get job as soon as they reached the town or
not………………………………………………………………………………………………………..25

Table 4.9 the reason for the lack job for the migrants as they reached at the town……….............25

List of figures

Figure3.1 The rural to urban migrants by monthly earning and expense………………………….20

Figure 3.2 Attitude of rural to urban migrant towards the present income compared to their
former income level……………………………………………………………………………………21

Pie chart 3.3 whether the rural to urban migrant faced problem or not…………………………...22

Figure 3.4 the distribution of rural to urban migration in their level relation with the dwellers

of the town………………………………………………………………………………………………24

Reference

Appendix

V
Abstract

The study aims at investigating rural to urban migration. Specially, the objective, of the study is to
identify factors, which motivate people of rural area to migrate and to assess the impact of rural to urban
migration on urban employment. The most important factors rural to urban migration are the economic
and the high rate of unemployment and lack of suitable land for farming in the rural area as the most
influential one. The reasons for migration can be the economic factors, the social factors, the
environment and physical factors. The data also show that most migrant are at young adult age and
educated to get job opportunities.

It is also observed that the socio economic situation at the origin of acts pushing factors moreover,
degradation of the land, famine, shortage of land have put as pushing factor at a time of origin.

VI
CHAPTER ONE
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Migration is the movement of people from one geographical location to another‘s involving permanent
or temporary settlement.Human being migrates, for political, social, and economic as well psychological
reasons. It is also believed to be the main cause for the fast growth of urban population that has reached
highest proportion in the world (Joseph, 1997).

Rural to urban migration is the movement of people from rural areas (village) to urban centers (cities).
One noticeable aspect in the society today is the rate at which people migrate from rural to urban
centers. While the urban center is increasing in population, the rural is decreasing in population. The
migration literature has come to regard rural to urban migration as the major contributing factor to the
ubiquitous phenomenon urban surplus labor and as a force which continues to exacerbate already serious
urban unemployment (Todaro, 2003).

Population growth in urban areas as soared over the last few decades. For instances the UN
document40% of the total last developed countries population lived in urban areas in 2000, compared
26.1% in1991. More specially, 34% of the sub-Sahara Africa population as urban in 2000 a jump of
more than625 over the fifteen years.(Todaro, 2003).

After mortality and fertility, migration is considered as third factor in bring change in the size and
structure of population of any given areas. Hence, migration simply the form of changing residence from
one administrative unit to another’s.But the general definition for migration is situational depending on
the investigation needs, the purpose of the study and the various set of data utilized (Standing G, 1994).
Migration is two types; one is internal migration which is does not involving crossing of international
boundaries. Its volume is increasing because of the opening of mining areas, urbanization and
availability of transportation.

Within internal migration there are different kind of population movement such as rural to urban, rural
to rural, inter regional, and urban to urban. The second types of migration is international migration is
involves crossing of international boundaries. The data of international migration is more available than
internal migration. Because of data of international migration is available and knows at different place
like parts and air station (Todaro, 2003).

The pull and push factors influence rural –urban migration. The condition in rural areas among
encourages or reinforcement people to find better job opportunities. At the same time in towns area
menities that are not available in the country side. Among the pull and push factors the main is
economic factor. The factor includes rural poverty, the different in living standard between rural and

1
urban, population pressure and shortage of from and the desire to break away from tradition organization
obligation in the country side and to get the greater social freedom of the town (IBID).

In Ethiopia rural –urban migration has been the basic factor for population of growth of urban centers.
The countries rates for rural to urban migration have shows a linear increasing from time to time
particularly since 20 century. Consequence urban population in absence of corresponding has already
become a great problem in Ethiopia (Kerbed, 1999).

Ethiopia is serious case, with population distribution that contests’ greatly too many countries. Despite
its large rural population , internal migration in country is relatively low , rural –urban migrants make up
just 16% of the population compared to 365 in the enter sub-Sahara Africa (world bank ,2008).

1.2 Statement of the problem

Migration might harmful effects on the town. Many migrants create difficult to provide housing, job and
other essential services, thus reducing the effectiveness of the town. In addition rural migrant are in
difficulties in making social adjustment necessary for life in urban areas (Todaro, 2003).

The primary problem seen in the town as a result of rural to urban migration is unemployment. Because
of inability of government to accommodate the migrant demand and expecting such as job, services,
political instability may occur. Migration has different effect on planning and so rural to urban migration
may alter forecasting of both population and their level of associated age structure, forecasting of demand
for such age related services are recreational, educational facilities and future growth(Todaro, 2003).

Among the factors that are responsible for population change the migration is the most difficult to
conceptualize and measure. Like that fertility and mortality, migration affects size, growth, structure,
characteristics and distribution of population and volume of labor force. Rural to urban migration in
Ethiopia contributed for half of the growth of urban population. It is true that most migrant move to the
fast growth towns’ in Ethiopia it is known that population census has been conducted once in ten years
and reports the total number of migrants dwelling in the towns. When population in the town increasing,
it create a problem for population planning and social service such as roads, education, health facilities,
water, and electric power and so on(ballachew, 2002).

2
The research conducted on this related issues before only focus on rural to urban migration exacerbate
scarce of natural resource like land, water, and forest contributes to accelerate environmental and natural
– urban migration and its impact on urban employment. Therefore this study would try to fulfill this gap
by incorporating the rural to urban migration its causes and impact on urban employment.
1.3 Objective of the study

1.3.1 General objective of the study

The general objective of the study is to investigate rural to urban migration its causes and impacts on
urban employment.

1.3.2 Specific objective of the study

 To identify the factors that motivates people of rural areas to migrate Harar sub city
 To assess the relationship between rural to urban migration and urban employments.
 To find out major problems that encounter in Harar sub city
 To give recommendation to curb rural to urban migration.

1.4 Research questions

 What are the factors which motivate people of rural areas to migrate to Harar sub city?
 What are the recommendations to curb rural to urban migration?
 Which sex group dominates the rural to urban migration?

1.5 Scope of the study

Migration as it is known is everywhere. However, to the vast areas it needs to take time enough money,
and detailed data about perception and attitude of the society to reach to concrete conclusion, but since
all these factor not feasible or beyond of the researcher capacity, the study areas that is Harar sub city
and respondent are taken from the town.

1.6 Limitation of the study

The main challenges of that faced during preparation of the paper are financial constraint, problem of
language, shortage of time, and willingness of individual to correct and appropriate information about
migration general, rural to urban migration in particular.

3
 1.7 significance of the study
The paper may have valuable information the general outlook of migration particularly rural to urban
migration in Harar sub city. In addition, the paper migration might give certain information about the
problem of migration. Lastly, the paper might to be taken as basis for further study or to stimulate further
research in this area by provide certain fact about the problem of migration.
CHAPTER TWO

2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical review
2.1.1 Definition Concept of Migration
Various theoretical approaches have been developed in the treatment of rural to urban migration. One of
theamong such approaches is economic theory of migration. The economic theory of migration see
migration as an important form of resource distribution of labor and that decision to migrate is reached
based on primary of private rational economic calculation by individual migrant after weighting the gain
and losses at both placed on origin and destination (Gugler,2000).

Theoretical evidence from less developed countries however, indicates that in many cases the act of net
effects of migration has been to shift unemployment and under employment from rural to urban sector.
The decision to migration as an investment decision involves an individual expected cost and return over
the time. Cash of income incurred both monetary and non-monetary such as expense for transportation,
loss of property and for gone income. Similarly, return from migration includes both monetary and
nonmonetary components. However, the component of the human investment theories are difficult
measure and limited in general income differential (Todaro, 2003).

2.1.2Causes of Rural- Urban Migration

2.1.2.1 Social Cause
According Jordan (2003) migration put both pull and push related to education. The absence of higher
education facilities in rural areas motivate to leave the rural areas and to move urban areas. The other
factor for movement of people is the desire for modern and better housing, medical services and more
infrastructure facilities such as water, electricity, sewage disposal etc in the town.

According to kebele (1999) the following area of problem are responsible in Ethiopia for publishing
people from rural-urban.

 Land fragmentation
 Improper farming practices, deforestation, overgrazing.

4
 Populations pressure on rural land in some part the countries.

2.1.2.2 Physical and environmental factors

Ethiopia faces the complex challenges reserving the trend of depletion and degradation of its natural
resources. Ethiopia is the country where land and soil degradation has reached at catastrophic levels. It is
estimated that approximately 32 ton of soil that are denuded from some part of highland of Ethiopia are
believed to irreversible conditions.The rapid rate of environmental deterioration that has been
experienced in the country has been aggravated by cyclical drought condition. Consequently the intensity
of migration from environment of declining capacity to those which are perceives to be relatively better
has increased (Assefa, 2003).

2.1.2.3Economic causes
According to Jordan (2003) most people move from rural to urban areas probably for economic reason.
The explanation is the differences between rural and urban income. On the other hand the most deriving
factor is unemployment and shortage of land for cultivation.

2.1.2.4 Poverty and lack opportunities in rural areas

Poverty is still one of the most serious problems in the world. Many existing development polices takes
poverty alleviation in to consideration, which has too much economic advancement. It is estimated that
over one billion people in the world still live poverty. In developing countries, urban poverty is
persistent, with the major often living in rural areas. Hence, it is in those that poverty alleviation policies
should be concentrated (World Bank, 2008). When generalizing about the poverty in rural areas dispersed
all over the poor regions. Among majority groups, women and children accounts for the largest
percentages (Todaro, 2003).
About two third of the poor in rural area get by and sustain their lives with subsistence farming either
as small farmer or working on land owned by other person . The other one third is engaged in small
scale activities. Poverty profile for developing countries characterized the poor has being agricultural
house hold with in little arable land (Beyer 1999).

5
2.1.2.5 Urban job opportunities
Employment in urban areas can fall under two broad categories. The first formal sector and the secondly
the informal sectors.The formal sector characterized all activities that are recognized by the government
as being legal in nature and providing tax revenue. Traditional occupations such as, banking, office
creeks, and plumping would fall under this category. These job trends to pay more than job in the
informal sector.But find it difficult to do so. They need to have a certain level of education to be able to
come with the urban resident for those jobs. S workers’ productivity and income tend to higher in the
formal sector than informal sector. Worker in the formal sector enjoy job security, proper working
condition and retirement person (Todaro, 2003).

2.1.2.6 Urban informal sector

The urban informal sector, unlike its informal country part, includes all activities that are unregulated and
small scale in a nature. Not much attention was given this unregulated, unorganized and mostly illegal
sector. Observation were made, in several developing counties that certain labor market activities failed
to show up the statistics relevant in the formal modern sector. The majority of the new worker in the
urban labor force seemed to create their own employment and start their own business, or work for small
scale family run enterprise. Self-employments were engaged in a variety of activities such as shopping,
selling drug and selling fireworks (Todaro, 2003).
The majority of the workers entering to the informal sector are recent rural migrant who are unable to
find jobs in the formal sector. The main reason for taking part in the informal sector is to use what little
skill they have to earn enough income to sustain their daily lives. Urban informal sector activities can be
labor intensive (Todaro, 2003).

2.1.3 Benefit and cost of urbanization

2.1.3.1 Benefit
Economies of scales arise as result of economic growth. When supplier and consumer are in closer
proximity to each other, this allows for saving in communication and transportation costs. Large cities
also offer a variety of employment opportunities with higher wage, all of which may help accelerate the
pace of technological innovation. Urban growth also allows government to provide service such as
sanitation, water supply, electricity, and transportation more effective (Gurgler, 2000).

6
2.1.3.2 Costs
Against these benefit a major consequence of rural to urban migration is excessive urbanization. There is
very strong link between excessive urbanization and rural- urban migration. Migration has increased
urban population significantly over the years. A common view held by policy makers and economists in
developing countries is those urban growth rates are excessive.

This view brought about by large number of unemployed young people in many Asia, Africa and Latin
America cities. Most economists, however, believe that urbanization is inevitable consequence of rural
stagnation and successful economic development not undesirable force that must be suppressed.
Migration instead should be recognized as an equilibrating response to disequilibrium elsewhere in the
economy (Todaro, 2003).

The cost travel associated with large cities begins to rise urbanization becomes excessive, because
congestion take place which wastes resource such as a time and fuel. The expansion of cities causes the
costs of providing basic services deteriorate rapidly. Excessive urbanization and the problem associated
with it are all examples negative externalities. Negative externalities leads to market inefficiency, which
would cause market failure to occur. In case of urbanization, market failure can come in the form of
excessive urbanization, or city sizes that are above the socially desirable level (Samuel son, 2006).

2.1.4 Model of rural to urban migration

To provide a theoretical argument for rural to urban migration three model of rural to urban
migrationwill be presented. These are:

1. Migration and dual sector model of economic development

2. The family / house hold migration model
3. The Todaro migration model

These models give alternative insight for the reason why migration takes place. The Lewis dual sector
model basically state that there are two sectors, Agriculture and industry. There is excess labor in rural
agricultural sector; therefore, people migrate to industrial sector to obtain employment. Secondly, the
family /house hold migration model state that migration is rarely an individual decision, immediate and
extended family plan an important role of when marking the decision to migration. Finally, Todaro model
of migration state that migration is mostly on economic decision which decision find rational even with
the existence of urban unemployment (Samuel son, 2006).

7
2.1.4.1 Migration and the dual sector model
The Lewis dual sector model has two main sectors such as agricultural/ rural sector and industrial/ urban
sector which has a high demand for labor and offer wage that are higher than the rural areas. Lewis
assumed the agricultural sector to be purely subsistence characterized by surplus labor, low
productivity, low income and considerable under employment same portion rural labor force where
assumed to be surplus nature, contributing nothing to output. Industrial sector assumed to be
technological advanced with high level of investment in urban environment (Todaro, 2003).

By offering slightly higher wage in the industrial sector many worker from the rural sector are attracted.
Wage here only has to be slightly higher than the average agricultural productivity in order to attract the
surplus labor to the cities. At this wage in industrial sector, the supply of labor is said to be elastic, since
as long as there is surplus labor in sector in no upward pressure on the wage in industrial sector (IBID).

2.1.4.2. Family /house hold migration

Household migration can be divided into two categories such as split and family migration. Split
migration occurred when the head of the house hold move from rural to urban, then the rest of his/her
family follows at a later date. Family migrations occur when the entire family moves together at the same
time to urban areas. The reason for split migration may be that the family would want to take on less cost.
If house hold goes to urban sector himself. Initially he doesn’t have to worry about his family’s survival
while he is in searching of employment. The family can stay in rural sector and continue doing their
miscellaneous task provide subsistence for themselves, until the households findings employment and
able to pay for his family to pay him in the city (Samuel son, 2006).

2.1.4.3 Todaromigration model

The main idea of the Todaro model is that migration is mostly an economic decision, which an
individual find rational even with the existence of urban employment. The Todaro model states that urban
rural difference in expected income rather than the actual earning leads to migration. Individual look at
the employment opportunities that are available to them in rural and urban sector, and choose the one that
give them gain from migration (Todaro, 2003).

According to Todaro , the theory assumed that members of the labor force, both actual and potential
compared their expected incomes for a given time period in the urban sector (the different between
returns and cost of migration) with prevailing average rural income and migrate if the former exceeded

8
the later. But the reality of the situation in that in many developing countries there is a chronic
unemployment problem, so migrants can not to find high paying urban employment as soon as they enter
to the city. What would probably end up happening is that many unskilled and unemployment migrants
up on arrival in the city would either be unemployment or find employment in the urban informal sector.
On the other hand, migrant with marketable skill and secondary or tertiary education will have a better
change of securing a high paying urban job, many will find jobs in the formal sector quickly faced with
the high rate of unemployment in urban areas and the probability of the underemployment and being
unemployed for an extended period the migrant must consider the risks and weight them against positive
urban real income difference (IBID).

Todaro goes on to say that just because a typical migrant who obtain a job in the urban formal sector
expected to earn twice the amount he would than of he stayed in rural sector, doesn’t mean much if the
actual probability of getting a higher paying job is one chance in five in one year time period,(IBID).

2.1.5 Positive and negative impact of migration

Negative impact: migration to urban area increase urban population and hence, unplanned urban
expansion with insufficient supply of social service like housing, electricity, water supply, paper sewage
system of network and transport and other environmental stress make hard in urban center. Increased
number of people certainly put pressure on the available and stagnant public service, health service and
education service have been particular burden with a huge demand, causing over crowed in urban center
(Samuel son, 2006).

Positive impact: migration of people from dispersed, rural mostly agrarian to cities is per quite for
development of a more concentrated urban industrial society. The migration people raises economic
efficient by facilitating special reorganization and allocation of human resource. Migration is an
important to allocate income disparities among different region and between and rural areas in an
economy (IBID).

2.2 Empirical literature review

Abebe (2008) has pointed the cause of the unemployment in Bahirdarcity. According to this finding
results, the rapid urban population growth (change) aggravated the urban –unemployment problem by
making in creating sustainable job opportunities and the number of economic established are too few to
abroad the large portions economically active population. Furthermore, rural-urban migration is one of

9
the components of population change; it is making the urban employment problem more serious because
of migration and additional number of the active on the existing labor force. In the Bahirdar city
individual migrate from the Surrounding woreda, therefore, it will be harder for the existing sector to
afford all labor force.
Rural to urban migration is the most important movement that contributes to urbanization. The relative
important of rural-urban migration and urban-urban migration in the urban concentration vary from
region to region and from country to country. In the Latin America, people move directly from rural area
to urban center represented a small fraction of that total migration; the rural-urban migration is the most
preponderance type of migration responsible for the growth of cities in sub-Sahara Africa (Bkri Gore,
1999).
During the last decades, Ethiopia economy went through deep economic crisis, which had adverse
impact on the urban employments opportunities and living standard of the urban people. The high urban
unemployment is manifestation of an ineffective utilization of the availability of man power, slow
economic growth and poor education system. Currently there is high and over growing demands for the
urban employment opportunities in the country that for exceeds the supply (Abebe, 2006).
The past few decades have wetness a rapid place of urban population concentration in developing
countries of Africa. For example, in Ghana, the urban population in the 1960 was 23% of total
population. The concern have emanated from that bulk of the urban population is constructed migrate
from the rural area in the country side. The loss of rural population to urban center is often be moaned for
its implied adverse effect on rural development. The consequence of rural-urban migration have been
noted with demand for urban socio economic amenities exceeding supply , the urban area problem such
as overcrowding , congestion, adequate house and, high rate of urban unemployment (Bakri Gore, 1999).

2.2.1. Possible solution to improve the very serious rural to urban migration and situation in less
developed countries
A. Creating an appropriate rural-urban economic imbalance:more appropriate balance between
rural and urban economic opportunities appears to be indispensable to reduce both rural and urban
unemployment problems and to slow rural to urban migration. The trust of his activity should integrated
development of rural sector, the spread of small scale industries throughout the country side and the
reorientation of the economic activity and social investment toward the rural area.

10
B. Expansion of small scale, labor intensive industries: the composition of the output has obvious
effect on the magnitude of urban employment opportunities because some product requires more labor
per unit output and per unit of capital than other. Expansion of these mostly small scale and labor
intensive industries in the rural and urban areas can be accomplished in to two ways: directly through
government investment and indirectly, through income redistribution to the rural poor.
C. Eliminating of factor price distribution : there is simple evidence to demonstrate that correcting
factor price distortion primary by eliminating various capital subsides and curtaining the growth of urban
wage through market based pricing would increase employment opportunities and make better use of
scare capital resource.
D. Choose the appropriate labor intensive technology of production: one of the principal factors in
habiting the success of any Long run program of employment creation both in urban industries and rural
infrastructure is the most complete technological dependence developing nation on imported machinery
and equipment from the developed countries. .
E. Reducing population growth: it can be done through reduction absolute poverty and inequality,
particularly for women, along with the expanded provision of family planning and rural health services
(Jordan,(2003).

2.2.2. Effect of rural-urban migration on urban employment

The major consequence of the rapid urbanization, process has been the increasing supply of job seeker
into the informal and formal sector of the urban economy. In many developing countries, the supply
workers for exceed the demand, the result being extremely of high rate of unemployment and under
unemployment in the urban areas. Internal migration was thought to be a natural process in which
surplus of labor was gradually withdraw from the rural sector to provide needed manpower for urban
industrial growth. It is also now clear from recent less developed countries experience that the rate of
rural – urban migration continued to exceed the rate of urban job creation and to surplus greatly the
observation greatly the absorption capacity of both industrial and urban social service (Todaro, 2003).

Migration exacerbate these rural to urban imbalance into two ways, first, the supply side, internal
migration disproportional increase the growth of urban job seekers relative to urban population growth
which itself is at historical unprecedented level, because of high proportion of well-educated young

11
people in migrant system. Their presence tends to swell the urban labor supply while depleting the rural
country side of valuable human capital (Samuel son 2006).

Second, on the demand side, urban job creation is generally more difficult and costly to accomplish then
rural job creation because of the end for the substantial complimentary input for most jobs in the
industrial sector. Moreover, the presence of rising urban wage and compulsory employee fringe benefit in
combination with availability of appropriate more labor intensive production technologies means that
arising share of modern output growth is accounted for by increase in labor production (IBID)

12
 CHAPTER THREE

3. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

3.1 Description of the study area
Adigrat town is located in eastern zone of the Tigray Region, north of Addis Ababa. It located in
at 998km from Addis Ababa on the road of Aksum. Located in the misrakawi zone at longitude
and latitude 140 16’N 390 27’E within an elevation of 2,457 meters above sea level ,below high
rigid to the west, Adigrat is the last important Ethiopia city south of the border with Eritrea, and is
consider to be a strategically important get way to Eritrea and the Red sea. The town is popular
for its immense natural gift including excellent climatic condition which provides comfortable
living and working environment. The total population (2007) is 86,094, (Wikipedia).
The largest pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Ethiopia, Addis pharmaceutical factory SC, is
located in Adigrat. Opened in 1992, the plant has an annual production capacity of 1.2 Billion
tables, 19billion ampoule, 10 million vials, 500,000 capsules, 4 million ointment tubes and 9.6
Million, bottles of syrup. Pharmaceuticals are one of the 13 companies owned and managed by
the Endowment fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT, WIKIPEDIA).

3.2 Data type and Sources of the data

The analysis of the study would be depending only primary source of data. Primary data
collected by using questionnaires and interviewing sample techniques.

3.3 Method of data collection

The study would be used only primary data collection methods. Primary source includes
structural questionnaire is used as data gathering devices as it easy for tabulation. These
questionnaires were used to the respondent s that they can read and write, interview to those
cannot read and write.

3.4 Methods of data analysis

The study would based on collective data descriptive types of data analyze are applied. After the
data are collected the researcher uses to analyze by tables, graphs and charts have been made and
percentages are calculated for each item. Moreover, conclusion and recommendation would be
given on the bases of highest and lowest percentages are obtained.

13
 3.5Sampling techniques and sample sizes
The study would be uses different methods such as interviewing sample technique and
questionnaire methods. To conduct the research I took 40 respondents of migrants randomly.
Adigrat town has six kebeles but the study would select only four kebeles and in two kebeles 20
respondents wouldselected and in other two also 20 respondents would selected by using simple
random sampling technique.

3.8 Organization of the study

The research paper comprised for five parts. The first part deals with introduction information
about rural to urban migration .The second parts briefly different literature review. The third part
deals with methodology of the study. The fourth part is the analysis of the data collected and its
presentation. Final part is the conclusion and recommendations would be forwarded.

14
 CHAPTER FOUR

4. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

This part of the study deals with data analysis and interpretation of data collectedthrough
questionnaire and interview from the rural to urban migrants in Adigrattown. Thequestionnaireis
used as a data gathering device as it is for administration and tabulation .Then the obtained data
was analyzed using descriptive analysis. The study taken 40 respondents who migrated from
rural to urban as a sample size. From this 20 respondents are male and the remaining 20
respondent are female(see table 4.1.1).

4.1 Characteristics ofthe respondents

Migration studies consistently found that propensity to migrate is related to sex, age, education,
andmarital status.

4.1.1 Sex structure of the respondents

Table 4.1The distribution of sex respondents

Sex Number of Percentages

respondents
Male 20 50%
Female 20 50%
Total 40 100%
Source: own survey (2015)

According to the above table 50% of the respondents are male and 50% of the respondents are
female are equal involvement in the rural to urban migration .The females respondents employed
in government sectors and self-employed such as bakeries, beautysalon, traditional drinking and
many of them are employed.

The males respondents employed in government sectors and self-employed such as shoeshine,
barber, work in hotel, etc. and many of them are employed.

4.1.2 The age structure of respondents

Table 4.2. The distribution of age structure of the respondent

15
 Age structure Number of respondent
Male Female Total percentage
Adolescent(15- 6 3 9 22.5%
19) year
Young adult age 12 15 27 67.5%
(20-39) year
Old age(>40) 2 2 4 10%
year
Total 20 20 40 100%
Source: own survey (2015)

According to the above data migrants the most of migrants was in young adult group, whose
percentage consisted 67.5% since it’s predominately the young people who are more prone move
more than all other age groups, such as for adolescent ages are 22.5% and old age are 10%. The
propensity to migrate tends to decrease with increasing age. Now a day many young people leave
the home without any permission.

Most of the migrant left their home when they were in the young adult age .That is 67.5% of the
respondent asserted that they left their former residence when they were in the young adult
age .This was because the fact that they can adjust themselves to when the new environment
more easily than other age groups .Furthermore, migrants will maximized long term expected
earnings by moving early during the most productive age.On the other hand, 22.5% of the
respondent asserted that the left their home when the in adolescent age however the remaining of
10% of the respondent left their former residence when they were above 40 years old .That is the
minimum proportion because of the older people tend develop strong attachment to their
property and family .The jobs for people over 40 years old age are very difficult to find the job
because the most available jobs required human labor and depend on physical fitness.

4.1.3. The education level of the respondents

Table 4.3The distribution of education level of the respondent
Education level Number of respondent Percentage

16
 Male Female Total
Illiterate 6 8 14 35%
Primary school 4 5 9 22.5%
Secondary school 8 5 13 32.5%
College/university 1 3 4 10%

Total 19 21 40
100%
Source: ownsurvey (2015)

According to the above data the studies have demonstrated that there is direct relationship
between the educated and the propensity to migrate. In all societies, the educated are 65% more
mobile than the less educated or illiterate 35% .Most of the respondent are literate which account
for 65% of them .This shows that the educated are more likely to migrate since they can get
relatively higher income in urban center for their life .The above data illustrated 35% of the
respondent are illiterate, while 22.5% within primary level, 32.5% in secondary school, and the
remaining 10% are college/university. Most of them are literate and they migrated since there are
no adequate education facilities in rural areas .Concerning sex as can be seen in above table
female migrate are more illiterate than male migrate .This is mainly because of female are
imposed to different social, cultural and influence by the societies which restricts female to home
duties.

4.1.4. Marital status of the respondent

Table 4.4The proportion marital status of the respondents

Marital status Number of respondents Percentage

Single 21 52.5%

17
 Married 14 35%
Divorced 3 7.5%
Widowed 2 5%
Total 40 100%

Source:own survey (2015)

According to the above data the migrants are largely concerned in young adult age, the majority
of them are likely to be single. 52.5% of the respondents replied that they were single when they
arrive atAdigrattown. Unmarried respondent migrate from rural to urban for jobopportunity . In
rural area there is no better job suitable for individuals. But in urban area due to the presence of
better job opportunity. soan individual have an opportunity for different type of jobs. So an
individual had migrated from rural to urban due to desirable job.

35% of the respondent replied that were married when they are migrate. The married migrants
are depending up on their false assumption this means the expectation of better way of life in
urban, which implies their assumption uncertain or may be false. and by assuming there is high
job opportunities in urban rather than in rural.

On the other hand the minimum that is 5%of the respondent asserted that their partners are end
or widowed. Widowed respondent migrated for escape the fear of the faced situation that is
within the area he lived and for the sake of next alternative choices. The remaining 7.5% of the
respondent are divorced when they migrated to town. The divorced migrants they migrates from
rural to urban because of psychological wellbeing from community criticism. In
fact be single can easy migrate from their family and adopt them in better way to the new
environment since there is no other person to be supported by them.

4.2. The reason for the decision to migrate to theAdigrat town

The most important factors for rural to urban migration are the economic and the high rate of
unemployment, lack of infrastructure in rural area and lack of suitable land for farming in the
rural area as the most influential one. The reasons for migration can be the economic factor, the

18
social factors, the environmental and physical factors and so on. From these factors the economic
factors are the most common reason to decide to migrate to the town areas.

Table 4.5.The proportional reason for the decision factor to migrate to the town.

Number Type of reason Number of respondent Percentage

1 Economic Factors 65%
26
Absence of farm oxen 3 7.5%
To get better job 15 37.5%
opportunity
Shortage of farm land 2 5%
Difference in income 4 10%
Other economic 2 5%
factors
2 Social factor 8 20%
3 Environmental and 5%
Physical factor 2
Soil erosion 2 5%
4 Other factors 4 10%

T0tal 40 100%

Source: own survey (2015)

According to the above table 65% of the respondents of asserted that the decisive factor for their
migration are economic reasons such as 7.5% by the absence of farm oxen, 5% by the shortage
of farm land, 37.5% to get better job opportunities, 5% by other economic factors, and 10% by
the difference in income in rural and urban areas .We can understand that most these migrants
are migrate to get better job opportunities. This is because in country side there is no job
opportunities other than farming.

19
Similarly to the above item to indicates that 20% of the respondent asserted that the decisive
factors for their migration are social (pull) factors .The factor may be the absence of higher
education in the rural areas, modern and better housing in the town, medical and infrastructural
facilities.

On the other hand, 5% of the respondent replied that they migrated to the due to environmental
and physical (push) factor such as soil erosion and land degradation.

Finally, the remaining 10% of the respondents asserted other reason like death relative, break
away from unhappy marriages etc. Thus we can understand from the above table most of the
people move from rural areas to the town mainly for economic reasons.

4.3 The impact of rural to urban migration on employment in the Adigrat towns.
.Table 4.6 Impact of rural to urban migration on urban employment

Types of impact Number of respondents Percentages

Unemployment increases 24 60%
Scarcity of infrastructure in 10 25%
urban area
Urban population increases 6 15%
Total 40 100%

Source: own survey (2015)

Since the employment opportunity is better is the town than in the rural area, a large proportion
of the rural to urban migrants comes to the Adigrat town for the searching of jobs. However the
employment opportunities are not as good as the rural to urban migrants tends to believes at the
beginning. One of the most common problems for migrants the adaptation of the new
environments was the encounter great difficulty finding jobs .From this 60% of the respondents
were causes for unemployment in urban area .25% of the respondents were cause for lack of
infrastructure in the urban area, due to high migration from rural to urban, in urban area it creates
scarcity of infrastructure.Due to urban to urban migration urban population increases by 15%
respectively.

20
 Generally, in case of rural to urban migration unemployment 60%, scarcity of infrastructure in
urban area by 25% and population by 15% were increases respectively.

Figure 4.1The rural to urban migrants by monthly earning and expense

Percentage(%)
40
30
Relatively Equal in- Less Income than
20 Better income than come and Expense;
Expense ; Percentage(%); 37.5 Expense; Percent-
10 Percentage(%); 30 age(%); 32.5

0 Percentage(%)
Percentage %

se se
pen pen
Ex Ex
nd ha
n
ns
e ea et
pe co
m m
Ex il n co
an In
th ua ess
e Eq L
om ly
n c tive
eri la
tt Re
Be

Source: own survey (2015)

From the above graphshow that 32.5% of the respondents are less income than expenditure that
they are employedin less paid jobs and also indicates that some of them couldn’t get better jobs
even they get, the amount of income they earn couldn’t cover their means of living.

On the other hands, 30% of the respondents are getting better income than expense and could
get better jobs they get, the amount of income earn could cover their means of living. The
remaining 37.5% of the respondent are getting relatively equal income and expense and the
amount of income earns equal with the amounts of expenditure for the means of living. There is
no excess income from the expenditure for the means of living.

Figure 4.2 Attitude of rural to urban migrant on the present income compared to their former
income level.

21
 50

45

40

35

30
Percentage %

25
47.5%
Series 1
20 40%

15

10
12.5%
5

0
Better than Previous in less than previous no change
come In Come

Source: own survey (2015)

According to the above grapy 47.5% of the respondents asserted that they are earning better
income than the previous income. On the other hand 40% of the respondents asserted that they
earning less income than previous income. Moreover over the remaining 12.5% of the
respondent replied that there is no change in income earning at this moment and previous time.

22
 4.4 The problem that rural to urban migrants encountered in Adigrat
Pie Chart 4.3 Whether the rural to urban migrant faced problem or not when they come to
Adigrat

Faced problem Not faced problem

Not faced problem;

Column1; 14; 35%

Faced problem;
Column1; 26;
65%

Source: own survey (2015)

From the above chart 65% of the respondent replied that they faced the problem during the
adjustment the environment. The pattern of rural to urban migration was associated with serious
social economic problem when they reached the town. Moreover when urban area are
concentrated by migrants many of the social service which were previously sufficient for urban
center may not enough.

However, 35% of the respondent asserted that they didn’t faced problems relatively because the
presence the relative or friends in the town

4.5 The Duration stays of migrants

23
Table 4.7 Distribution of rural to urban migrants in their duration of stay

Duration of stay Number of respondent Percentage

Less than 2 years 19 47.5%
2-3 years 14 35%
Above 4 years 7 17.5%
Total 40 100%
Source: own survey (2015)

From the above table the duration stays of the migrants in the town categorized into three forms.
This, most of the migrants come to town at the recent time. Based on the above table 47.5% of
the respondents asserted that they come to Adigrat town very recently less than two years.

We can understand that the majority of the respondent have less than three years duration stay in
the town. This is due to involvement of new construction and the presence job opportunities that
are opened in the town, only 17.5% of the respondents have above four years duration stay in the
town. Moreover, 35% of the respondents have from two-three years of duration stay in the town.
Generally from this simple data we observed that rural to urban migration rate increases from
time to time in the town.

24
 Figure 4.4.The distribution of rural to urban migration in their level relation with the dwellers
of the town.

Level of relation in percentage

Percentage
40

35

30

25
Percentage
Percentage %

20
35%
15 30%
22.5%
10
12.5%
5

0
Very Good Good Medium Low

Source: own survey (2015)

From the above table, rural to urban migrant of the town have different level relation with
dweller of the town. We can understand that 30% of the respondent replied that they have
verygood relation. Moreover, 35% of the respondents have good relation with dweller of the
town and 22.5% of the respondent replied that they have medium relation with the dweller of the
town.

Finally the remaining of the respondents asserted low relation with dweller of the town. We
conclude the most of the migrant good relation good relationship with the dweller of the town.
When there are good relationship between migrants and dweller of the town good chance for
creating job opportunities and by establishing small and microenterprise.

25
Table 4.8Whetherthe rural to urban migration get job as soon as they reached the town or not.

Alternative Number of Total respondent

respondent
under different
type jobs
Formal sector Informal sector In number In percentage
Yes 6 9 15 37.5%
No 0 0 25 62.5%
Total 6 9 40 100%
Source: own survey (2015)

Table 4.8 shows as about whether the migrant get job as they reached at the different sector of
economies or not. From this 25 migrants who’s accounted for 62.5% of the respondents didn’t
have a job as they reached in the town. Only 15 migrants who get jobs 9 respondents were
engaged on the informal sector while the remaining 6 respondents were engaged on the formal
sector. From the employed of the migrants informal sector greater than formal sector, because of
majority of the migrants are unskilled labor forces and under developed of private sector in the
town.Generally, the majority of the migrants didn’t get job as they as they reached as the
expected before.

Table 4.9The reason for the lack job for the migrants as they reached at the town.

alternative reasons Number of respondents Percentage

unavailability of job 5 20%
Competition because of 13 52%
presence many migrants and
less employment
the job which is available is 7 28%
beyond your skill and
experience
Total 25 100%

26
Source: own survey (2015)

As explained earlier 25 respondent didn’t get the job as they reached the town. These rural to
urban migrants face different reasons such as unavailability of jobs, which are availability are
beyond their skill experiences but many migrants are unskilled labor force and failure
government sector job for unskilled the reason their lack of job at the time is unavailability of
jobs. Moreover 52% of the respondents who didn’t get job replied that reason for the lack of job
as they reached in the competition because the presence of many migrant and less employment
opportunities. The remaining 28% of the respondent who didn’tget job as they reached the town
replied that the reasons for their lack of job as they reached presence of job which is beyond their
skill and experience and many migrants are haven’t experiences and skills.

27
 CHAPTER FIVE
5.CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion
The study deals with the study survey of rural to urban migration in Adigrat town. The
population pressure that aggravated poverty in rural area can explain the limitation of
agricultural sector in rural areas can explain the limitation of agricultural sector in providing
adequate economic opportunities to the growing population among other.

Environmental degradation resulting from overcrowding and overgrazing has also act as push
factor in generating rural to urban migration. Recently rural to urban migration has effect on
unemployment problem in Adigrat town. It was also true that rural to urban migration increases,
it leads to the emergence of high unemployment, shortage of infrastructure in urban areas and
number of urban population increases. This is because of the creation of employment could not
cope with the high rate of migration. Large scale of rural to urban migration is associated with
different socioeconomic problem in the destination areas. Moreover, the majority of the
respondents replied that they faced problem during adjustment to the new environmental.

From the results of the study it is conclude that most people left their original places and come to
the town because of economic reason such as to get better job opportunities. With respect to age
structure young adult or productive segment of the population are revealed the most portion of
the migrants. In relation to marital status quite a significant portion of rural to urban migrants
were found to the single.

There is a direct relationship between education and the propensity of migration. According to
the respondents the educated are more mobile than the less educated. The majority of the
employed respondents asserted that, they are employed in less paid jobs and also indicated that
some of them couldn’t get better job even they get, the amount of income they earn couldn’t
cover the means of living. The majority of the migrant didn't get as they reached as they expected
before. The main reason for their lack of job as they reached is the completion because of the
presence of many migrants and less employment opportunities. Generally, from the simple data
one can deduce that rural to urban migration rate increase from time to time in the town.

28
5.2 Recommendation
The consequences of rural to urban migration have brought about unemployment and shortage of
social amenities. Thus, the concerned body should try to increase socio-economic facilities by
participating different governmental and non-governmental organization to mitigate the
problems in order to benefit from consequences of level urban migration.

Large scale of rural to urban migration creates excess human labor in the destination area and it
is a loss of productive segments of the population for the area of origin. There are different
measures that can be employed to curb rural to urban migration.

These measures include:

 Creating hierarchies of small and medium site town’s side by side with the rural
development. These are essential for provision of different services to the rural areas.
 Passing information to the perspective migrants about condition of destination is
important.
 Preparation of soil conservation measures to minimize the server erosion so as to a
balance environmental conditions and reduce drought problem.
 Expansion of rural development program that generate employment opportunities in rural
area and perhaps reduce that the pace of rural to urban movements.
 Improving the income condition of the rural population through maximizing agricultural
productivity.
 Expansion of different rural projects like family planning which could lower population
growth rate.
 Establishing different social facilities for rural people such as school, health center and
transportation.

29
 REFERENCE

 AbebeTemene 2006 International migration and urbanization in Ethiopia in preceding the

conference population issue in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
 Asseffa .H/mariam, 2003, population growth, environment and agriculture in Ethiopia, Addis
Ababa.
 BakriGori 1999, urban growth in Africa population and development.
 Bellachews Haile 2002, towards an understanding urban growth in Ethiopia and Africa.
 Beyer.H1999, the urban exploitation in Latin American continent in the process of
modernization.
 Gugler, J 2000, migration to urban center in internal migration, to a new world.
 Harris J. and Todaro 2003, economic development.
 Jordan 2003, health and environmental problem in the cities of developing countries in
population distribution and migrations.
 Jordan .G, 2003, population policy research priority in developing country , New York
 Kebedemamo 1999 migration and urbanization in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
 .Samuelson, 2006 health and environmental in the cities of developing countries in
population distribution and migration.
 World Bank, 2008 world urbanization prospect.
 Standing .G 1994, conceptualizing territorial mobility in migration survey in low income
country.

30
 HARAMAYAADIGRAT UNIVESITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Questionnaires

This questionnaire is prepared to collect data and necessary information toward the title of rural
to urban migration its causes and impact on urban employment in Adigrat town in Tigray region
to writes a senior essay on partial fulfillment of the course of research to acquire bachelor’s art
in economics.

1. Demographic characteristics of respondent.

2. Sex of respondent. A. Male B.Female
3. Age of respondent A. between 15-19 year B. 20-39 year C. Above 40 year
4. Education level of respondent
A. illiterate C. primary school
B. secondary school D. College/ university
5. Factor that influence rural to urban migration
6. What condition forced you to leave you former residence place?
7. Economic factors
A. Absence of farm oxen
B. To get better job opportunities
C. Shortage of farm land
D. Difference in income
E. Other economic reason

8. Social factors

9. Environmental and physical factors

A. Soil erosion

10. At the time you reach at the town, did you get job soon?

31
 A. yes B. no

11. If you answer for the question no. 10 is yes, what type of job had you been engaged?

A. formal B. informal

12. If you answer for question no. 10 is No what is the reason?

A. unavailability of job

B. the competition because of presence of many migrant and less employment

opportunities

C. The job which available is beyond you skill and experience

13. Did you face a problem during the adjustment to annual environment?

A. yes B. No

14. After were employed you income and expense are

A. relatively equal income and expense

B. Better income than expense

C. Less income than expense

15. How long have you been here in this town?

A. Less than two years

B. 2-3 year

C. above 4 years

16. When you compare you current income level and the income level your former residence?

17. How about the relationship between you and dweller of the town?

32
 A. very good relationship C. low relationship

B. good relationship D. medium relationship

18. Rural to urban migration, what types of impact on urban employment?

A. unemployment increases

B. scarcity of infrastructure in urban area

C. urban population increase

33