Determinants of rural out-migration and patterns of migrants' employment in North-central Nigeria

Aboluwaji Daniel Ayinmoro, University of Ibadan
Olufunke Fayehun, University of Ibadan

The urbanization growth rate of 5.3% per annum in Nigeria is at alarming rate. Rural out-migration to the cities, which contributes to this increase, has further impacted significantly on the declining agricultural employment in the country. The study examines the determinants of rural out-migration and patterns of migrants’ employment. The research was anchored on Lee and Harris-Todaro’s migratory models including structuration theory. A non-experimental survey research design was adopted to sample 402 rural out-migrants among five (5) selected rural migrants’ streams in Kabba. Results show that although education (29.4%) and employment opportunities (29.4%) were most common motivating factors influencing migrants’ decisions to move to the city, but due to their inability to secure reasonable white collar jobs at the destinations; new patterns of employments were formed ranging from part-time to non-engagement in agricultural employment. This suggests that migratory policies that will engender urban deindustrialization and rural development should be advocated.