Abstract:
Migration is the permanent or temporary movement of people from a certain geographical area to other
geographical areas those pushed and pulled by different reasons. In various developing countries
including Ethiopia rural poverty, low productivity and unemployment is pushing several migrants out of
rural origin towards areas with better employment opportunities. The study focused on the rural-urban
migration on migrant household heads the case of Dejen town. The main objective of this study was to
examine the major causes and consequences of rural-urban migration on migrant household heads of
Dejen town. Following this the researcher had selected randomly 174 sample migrant household heads
from two Kebeles of the town in order to achieve the objectives of the study. Both questioner and key
informant interview were employed to collect data and both qualitative and quantitative methods were
used to analyze the collected data. Based on the analyzed data and the results of the study the
researcher had concluded the demographic and socio-economic characteristics, the rural push and
urban pull factors and the consequences particularly on socio-economic aspects of in-migrants at
destination. For instance the majorities of migrant household heads are young adults, males, and
unmarried and some of are educated before in-migration. Push factors Such as, crop failure and low
agricultural productivities, shortage of agricultural land, unemployment and poor social services were
enforced the migrants from their place of origin , while the pull factors like better job opportunities,
education and training and modern urban service were attract the migrant to Dejen town. The number
of in-migrants faced by different problems when initially arrived in Dejen town and also today,
problems like, lack of house, unemployment, lack of food and related items, rising of living cost
inadequate social services and the like. The result of this study also shows the positive consequences at
place of destination. The study shows currently the majority of the surveyed migrants in the town have
got improvement in their general living conditions regarding to different socio-economic aspects of life.
The researcher indicated and recommended some ideas to reduce the problems of rural-urban
migration on migrant household heads.
