Migration and labour force participation: an analysis of internal economic migrants in Gauteng, South Africa, 2011

Historically Gauteng has always been the centre of attraction for the migrants from other parts of the country in search of economic opportunities and a better life. What has always been the question was whether Gauteng is able to absorb this flow of migrants mainly from rural areas into its workforce economically. Using 2011 census data the paper attempts to identify demographic and socio-economic characteristics that are significantly linked to employ and unemployed migrants that have settled in Gauteng and which age-groups have a better chance of finding employment in either the province of the origin or in Gauteng. The analysis is conducted at three levels, i.e., univariate, bivariate and multivariate using statistical techniques such as frequency tables, graphs of cross-tabulations, chi-square and binary logistics regression. The results show that specific individual and socio-economic characteristics are significant and highly associated with employed or unemployed migrants who have settled in Gauteng.