Rural-to-Urban Labor Migration: A Study of Upper Egyptian Laborers in Cairo By Ayman Zohry

Objectives Exploring a common strategy chosen by a certain category of young rural men in Upper Egypt who face limited economic opportunities in their villages – that is, rural-to-urban migration (circulation).

Objectives 1.Processes of rural – urban migration in Egypt 2.Living and working conditions of the migrants 3.Impact of rural – urban migration on demographic behavior 4.Economic aspects of rural – urban migration

Data and Methods In Destination: The Questionnaire (242) In-depth interviews (20) Home (residence) visits Interviewing employers Interviewing similar groups in Destinations Observation

Data and Methods The Questionnaire: Background information: Reasons for migration: Information about work: Information about living conditions in places of origin and destination: Information about income and its disposal: Information about family: Information about the new national projects: Plans for the future:

Data and Methods In Origin: Village (origin) fieldwork Interviewing and observing the left-behind family members Interviewing and observing non-migrant families

Data and Methods Village questions What factors help to explain who migrates and who does not? What are the roles of family and social networks in conditioning the migration process and in keeping contact with migrants in Cairo? How are remittances used? What do migrants do when they return? What are the main demographic and economic contrasts between migrant and non-migrant households?

Findings

Migration and modernization in Egypt Rural-Urban Migration in Egypt Typology of Upper Egyptian movements to Cairo

The Migrants Who are the migrants? Why do they migrate? Rural knowledge of the town

Work Work search Work characteristics of migrants Work dynamics Occupational safety

Living Conditions Living conditions in the village of origin Living conditions in Cairo Urban – rural linkages The mechanism of remittance use and allocation

Family, Population Issues Migration and fertility Current fertility and fertility preferences of respondents Child labor and children's education

Plans for the future

Conclusions Available online at

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