Youth and Urbanization

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Youth and Urbanization

A Double-Edged Sword

The patterns of economic development whereby employment opportunities are concentrated in urban areas are drawing large numbers of young people out of the rural areas. But in many developing countries, the slow pace of employment generation and the adoption of labour-saving technologies in the urban sector increase difficulties resulting from the rapid pace of labour migration to urban areas.

The continued inflow to the cities of rural migrants in the expectation of employment opportunities is causing a variety of urban problems. In many large cities the proliferation of slums is rapid, public transport is overcrowded and overused, and the water supply system is not always safe.

Although rural-urban migration can provide benefits for women, such as economic independence through wage income, thus delaying marriage and lowering fertility, decent employment opportunities for migrant females appear to be restricted. While large numbers of migrant women are employed in the manufacturing sector, that situation is primarily confined to young females. The older ages are more likely to be found in low-paying service sector jobs.

In general, it is the more educated who are most likely to migrate. The young and ambitious segments of the population, who have limited opportunities to use their education in rural areas, are likely to migrate to urban areas. The dilemma is how to make improvements in the level of human resources of the rural population while channeling those human resources for improvements in rural areas.

Urbanization is a phenomenon that is created by young people and of which they are affected. Young people make urban life what it is and they bring changes to it for better or for worse. It is in cities that young people see opportunities and new ideas. It is in cities that they see slums, traffic jams, pollution, drugs, prostitution, family breakups and loneliness. Yet it is in cities that they find each other in a coalition for experiments towards a better future. With the rapid pace of rural-urban migration among youths in the Asian and Pacific region there is all the more reason for youths to initiate actions for change and to lead Governments and other community members in meeting the challenges of urbanization.

Taken from the publication: “Review of the Youth Situation, Policies and Programmes in Asia and the Pacific”, ESCAP, 1997