Factors Affecting Rural To Urban Migration And Their Livelihood: In The Case Of Holeta Surrounding Area West Shewa Zone Oromia Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of rural-to-urban migration, focusing on individual and household characteristics, such as age, sex, education level, marital status, and family size, access to information, occupation, unemployment, and housing conditions. The research employs a logistic regression model to predict the likelihood of migration and uses Spearman’s rank correlation analysis to explore the relationships between variables. The findings indicate that age, education level, marital status, unemployment, and housing conditions are significant predictors of rural-to-urban migration. Specifically, younger individuals and those with higher education levels are more likely to migrate, as they seek better job opportunities and living conditions in urban areas. Unemployment plays a crucial role, as individuals facing job scarcity in rural areas tend to migrate to urban centers in search of employment. Also this study identified unemployment, age, education as critical determinants of rural –urban migration in Holeta. Logistic regression revealed unemployed individual had 8.3x higher odds for migrating (Or=8.3,p<0.01,while higher education reduced migration odds by 58%(OR =0.42,P<0.01). Younger migrants (21-30 years) dominated the flow (48%), with males comprising 87% of respondents. access of information significantly deterred migration (OR=0.096, p<0.05), additionally, the study highlights the importance of access to information and family size in shaping migration decisions. The lack of access to information in rural areas is a major barrier to migration, while smaller family sizes tend to encourage migration, as individuals face fewer familial obligations. The results provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to understand migration patterns and formulate strategies to address urbanization challenges, especially in terms of employment, housing, and education.