CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF INTERNAL RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION BOTH ON MIGRANTS AND MIGRANT RECIPENT CITY: A CASE STUDY OF BOLE SUB CITY, ADDIS ABABA

Abstract

The objective of this research is to understand the challenges and opportunities of rural-urban migration on the recipient city by considering the Bole sub-city of Addis Ababa Administration as a case study. Data were collected from both primary and secondary data source using closed and open-ended questionnaire and interviews from randomly selected 133 migrant workers and 42 permanent residents of the sub-city who have direct relations with the issue studied. The qualitative data were gathered using questionnaire and interview through purposive sampling method. Resulted revealed that Oromia, SNNP and Amhara are the three regions from where 94.7% of migrants are coming to Addis Ababa, and 78 % constitute active work force (adults below 30 years old) of the rural communities that migrated alone with hope to search for better livelihoods. More than half of the migrant were found working in construction and other labor intensive sectors and earn monthly incomes of above 2,350 Birr, which is higher than the income of a similar worker in the government sectors. Most migrants are considered as daily laborers and continuity of their service is uncertain, almost all migrants do no pay income tax at all. At present, the demand of the labor force in the city on the type of occupation covered under this study is high, but almost all migrant workers are not trained and have no specific skills in the jobs they often perform. As a result, majority of employers are not satisfied by the performances of the workers. As a result it is important for the regional and federal government authorities to encourage the private sector to establish skill development and outsourcing center and establishing centralized registration system is very essential. Despite the advantages mentioned above, the current uncontrolled situation may become a source of security concerns that will have considerable social and economic consequences.