Urbanization and youth employment in South East of Nigeria: 2015 – 2023

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between urbanization and youth employment in South East of Nigeria from 2015-2023. The study was carried out in five major urban areas in south east , which include Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Aba, and Owerri. Data were elicited using questionnaire, in-depth interview and focus group discussion guide. The findings of the study revealed that there is no positive correlation between urbanization and youth job placement in South East Nigeria and there is no positive correlation between urbanization and youth empowerment in South East Nigeria. The study advocates that though employment opportunities may exist in the urban areas, it is also likely that the youths who migrate to the urban areas in search of better jobs may not be able to secure employment, due to increased competition for the few available jobs in the urban areas secondly urban areas often have higher living costs, which can make it difficult for the youths to support themselves and may resort to social vices such as arm robbery, prostitutions, drug trafficking etc in a bid to survive. The study recommends that Social and infrastructural amenities should be provided in the rural areas to curtail the rate or Youth migration into the urban areas to search for non-existent job.. The government should provide youth empowerment scheme to equip the youths with necessary skills to be relevant in the labor marke