Internal Migration and Urban Employment among the Youths: The Case of Street Traders in Nigeria

The study examined the impact of internal migration on urban employment in street trading activities among the youth at national level through field work funded by Covenant University Centre for Research and Development (CUCERD), Nigeria. The study locations consist of randomly selected Central Business Districts (CBDs) in three major cities across three geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Data were segregated by two age groups (< 18 years and 18-24 years), and analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The result indicated that migrant youths with lower educational levels will be 0.723 and 0.623 times less likely to experience a change in welfare status compared with those with tertiary education. A daily income level above N2,500 would likely enhance a positive change in welfare status of an average street trader. The study concludes that youth migration and street trading are escape routes from poverty at rural areas, unemployment minimizers, and survival strategy that could possibly inform employment policy in Nigeria.

Key words: Internal migration, youth, employment, street trading