Youth Mobility in Uganda: Analysing Predictors of Migration and Employment Status at Destination

Abel Nzabona, Centre for Basic Research, Kampala

Young people continue to move out of rural to urban Uganda. Although studies present evidence for drivers and corollaries of this mobility, less is known about the predictors. This study investigated correlates of youth migration and employment. Data were collected from 1,537 respondents in a 2017/2018 cross sectional study. Binary logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression models indicate that being older youth and hailing from a rural environment increased the odds of out-migration. Being older youth increased the chances of self-employment and paid employment. Compared to married youths, the never married were less likely to be self-employed but more likely to be paid casual workers. Females were consistently less likely to be employed across all categories of employment. The conclusion is that age, home environment and sex significantly influence migration and employment. The findings have implications including improvement of rural conditions and strengthening programmes that address employment gender gaps.