Migration and Unemployment in South Africa: When Motivation Surpasses the Theory

Katy Cornwell () and Brett Inder

No 2/04, Monash Econometrics and Business Statistics Working Papers from Monash University, Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Abstract: This paper looks at the connection between internal migration and unemployment in South Africa. We examine whether rural-urban migrants are more likely to be unemployed, in informal sector employment or underemployed than non-migrants. We build on standard economic theory to predict that rates of unemployment and of participation in the informal sector ought to be much higher for migrants than for non-migrants. The empirical evidence we present, based on the 1993 and 1994 October Household Surveys, provides only some support for this theory. Results suggest that compared to job seeking non-migrants, recent migrants do well at finding formal employment, and are much less likely to be unemployed.

Keywords: Africa; South Africa; Unemployment; Informal Sector; Rural-Urban Migration; Labour Turnover (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J61 J64 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 30 pages
Date: 2004-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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