Endalew Gashu

Rural-urban Migration: the Causes and Consequences of Rural-urban Migration to Dessie Town Endalew Gashu

The concentration of economic activities and social services in Dessie town attracts a large number of migrants to the town from different areas. However, the town has been experiencing problem of unemployment, shortage of housing and so forth. Most migrants came to Dessie in search of jobs. On the other hand, some of them in-migrate to Dessie in order to get urban services and education as well as to be free from cultural and family restriction and obligation. Most migrants came from rural areas and are dominated by young women and men aged 15-29. Most of them are single, widowed and divorced when they in-migrate to Dessie. In addition, most migrants have attained formal education and they are short distance migrants. However, as a result of moving to Dessie problems such as shortage of housing, unemployment, increasing cost of living, lack of access to social services and the like are some problems that have been faced by migrants. Though migrants have different problems most of them do not have the intention to leave Dessie.