Enterprising Youths in Search of 'Greener' Pastures
Undoubtedly,
Africa has a young population and one of the fastest rates of natural increase
in the world. According to UN-DESA, while most European countries are at zero
population growth rates, Oceania at 1.7 percent and Latin America at 1.1
percent, the average annual population growth in Africa was about 2.5 percent
as at 2013.
Of all the challenges of having a young population, that of unemployment is most visible and impactful on the social and economic environment. Owing to the low labour absorption rates of the organized private sector in developing countries, most unemployed youths who migrate to cities in search of ‘greener’ pastures find solace in the urban informal sector – for livelihood.
These youths either rove busy urban streets or sit by sidewalks in make-shift shacks to sell their wares; this they continue to do, despite their daily exposure to hazards – accidents, harassment by law enforcement agents, arrest, confiscation of wares and the attendant implications on their reproductive health.
Those in better welfare conditions in their present location, compared to their previous location, were less likely to migrate than those who perceived themselves to be worse off. Youths in search of alternative job opportunities were more likely to seek further migration than those with other career prospects.
Also, we found that youth traders who had acquired some skill prior to their engagement in street trading were less likely to further migrate than those without prior skill acquisition. Moreover, traders with tertiary education were more likely to seek further migration than those with little or no form of formal education.
On policy imperatives to reduce the incidence of skilled migration, national, state and local governments should provide more vocational and entrepreneurship training. So doing, youths will be equipped with requisite skills to either compete for jobs in the urban labour market or set up viable ventures.
Youth empowerment through vocational and entrepreneurship training can deter youths from continued migration, thus making them less susceptible to recruitment into insurgency groups.
Given the vibrant nature of the informal sector in Nigeria, aggressive policies targeted at enhancing the productivity of and increasing employment prospects in the sector are desirable.
The
discussion continues…
Of all the challenges of having a young population, that of unemployment is most visible and impactful on the social and economic environment. Owing to the low labour absorption rates of the organized private sector in developing countries, most unemployed youths who migrate to cities in search of ‘greener’ pastures find solace in the urban informal sector – for livelihood.
These youths either rove busy urban streets or sit by sidewalks in make-shift shacks to sell their wares; this they continue to do, despite their daily exposure to hazards – accidents, harassment by law enforcement agents, arrest, confiscation of wares and the attendant implications on their reproductive health.
In a
recent paper,
using data from a national survey of street traders in four geopolitical zones
of Nigeria, we explore the relationship between socio-economic characteristics
and migration prospects of youth street traders. The study found that, in most cases, youths
migrate in hope of improved
welfare conditions.
Those in better welfare conditions in their present location, compared to their previous location, were less likely to migrate than those who perceived themselves to be worse off. Youths in search of alternative job opportunities were more likely to seek further migration than those with other career prospects.
Also, we found that youth traders who had acquired some skill prior to their engagement in street trading were less likely to further migrate than those without prior skill acquisition. Moreover, traders with tertiary education were more likely to seek further migration than those with little or no form of formal education.
On the
whole, the paper shows that gender, education, nature
of trading, migrant and employment status play a significant role in continued
migration amongst street traders in Nigeria.
On policy imperatives to reduce the incidence of skilled migration, national, state and local governments should provide more vocational and entrepreneurship training. So doing, youths will be equipped with requisite skills to either compete for jobs in the urban labour market or set up viable ventures.
Youth empowerment through vocational and entrepreneurship training can deter youths from continued migration, thus making them less susceptible to recruitment into insurgency groups.
Given the vibrant nature of the informal sector in Nigeria, aggressive policies targeted at enhancing the productivity of and increasing employment prospects in the sector are desirable.
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