Instigating Factor of Rural-Urban Migration at Jimma Town, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

In developing countries like Ethiopia rural-urban migration has been growing in very alarming rate. This study entitled, Instigating Factor of Rural-Urban Migration at Jimma Town, South West Ethiopia aims at identifying the major causes of migration to Jimma town. To do so the study has adopted a quantitative research design by which data were collected from the migrants in the town. Data were collected from 289 migrants through questionnaire. The data were analyzed through such statistical techniques as frequency table, percentages, mean and standard deviations. The study found out that the majority of migrants to Jimma town were single, male, secondary school and above graduates youngsters (Average age in years=24.7). The study also found out that the major causes of migration to the town were the phenomenon of unemployment, advertisement about the urban lives, low opportunities, and job types in the rural areas. The study also tried to compare the live conditions of the migrants before and after migration. To this end, the overwhelming majority (79.9 %) of migrants have confirmed that their lives have changed substantially. It is hence concluded that the rate of the migration will continue to increase in the coming years as far as the educated youth are left unemployed in the rural areas. It is therefore recommended that, all the concerned bodies need to be aware of the trends of the migration and its causes and thereby has to work strongly on job creation endeavors.