Youth Rural-Urban Migration and Change in Livelihoods A Case of Informal Traders in Njombe Town, Tanzania

Abstract

Th is study investigated youth rural-urban migration and change in livelihoods in Njombe Town. Specifi callythe study aimed at identifying the factors causing the migration of youths from rural to urban areas andinvestigated the livelihoods of the youths after migrating to Njombe Town. Furthermore, the study employedsnowball sampling technique which enabled to get a sample size of 99 respondents. Purposive samplingtechnique was used to get the key informants who provided the important information about youth rural-urban migration and change in livelihoods. Th e study collected its data through interviews, focus groupdiscussion, observation, documentary sources and questionnaires. Th e study observed that lack of social services;employment opportunities and poor per capita income in rural areas were the major factors that pushed theyouths out of rural areas while the possibilities of getting employment and conducive environment for businessactivities were the pull factors of Youths to Njombe Town. Th e study fi ndings further showed that although mostof the youths had an idea of getting jobs in Njombe Town, only few managed to get formal employment dueto lack of education and important skills necessary for urban labour market. Th erefore, this forced the youthsto be employed in marginal jobs like being barmaids, domestic servants, security guards services, assistant ' shostesses and most of them were self-employed in informal trading activities whereby few of them improvedtheir livelihoods compared to when they were in rural areas. Th e study recommended that Youths rural - urbanmigration can be reduced by improvements in the agricultural sector which it was observed to discourage theyouth to remain in rural areas. Th e study further recommended that Youth should have access to fi nancialcapital and credits at reasonable interest rates