This study examined the central characteristics of migrants and determinants of rural-urban migration in Southern Ethiopia based on snow ball sampling and a survey of 665 sample migrants using descriptive and econometric analysis. The results of this study showed that 76.2% of the migrants left their home at age ranges between 15 and 25 years. Similarly, it was found that 48% of the migrants were attending junior education level, while 28 and 13% of the migrants were attending secondary and primary education levels, respectively. Moreover, 80% of migrants in the study area were not married as at the time of their migration. In addition, the study found that the main reasons for rural-urban migration in the study areas were better jobs opportunities in the urban areas (44%), rural poverty (26%), search for further education (10%), starting new business (8%), to be free from restrictive culture (8%) and better urban services (4%). The regression analysis of the Probit model indicated that age, years of schooling, relatives at receiving areas, monthly income at sending areas and family size significantly affect rural-urban migration. Policies aimed at reducing rural-urban migration should focus on creating viable farm and non-farm activities for rural unbanked youth.

This study examined the determinants of the level of remittance from urban migrants to their families in rural areas using a sample of 665 rural-urban migrants and Tobit regression in Southern Ethiopia. Descriptive results revealed that most of rural-urban migrants were unmarried, better educated, and young. For instance, 84 percent of rural-urban migrants were unmarried, while 68 percent of ruralurban migrants aged between 15 and 25 years.The education level of 74 percent of rural-urban migrants was found between 5 and 10 years of schooling.The mean income, saving, and remittance of female migrants were lower than their male counterparts. Regression results of Tobit model indicated that age, gender, education level, frequency of visits, income, and saving of migrants positively and significantly related with the level of remittance from migrants. But family size of migrant-sending household and the intension to return back negatively and significantly related with the level of remittance. Provision of better education in origin areas and better-paying jobs in receiving areas would lead to higher remittance from migrants. The provision of off-farm employments in origin areas would reduce the current wave of rural-urban migration and this will lessen pressure on public services in receiving urban areas.