# Introduction a) Background of the study igration is a form of geographical mobility between one geographical units (origin) to a certain destination generally involving a change of residence from a place to the place of arrival (destination). It involves a permanent or temporary change of residence from one neighborhood settlement (Administrative Unit); this process is also out migration. Moving to a particular location is defined as immigration (Kebede, 1994). In the past years rural to urban migration in developed countries grew during the time of industrialization, when more mechanized farming needed few agricultural workers in the rural area and when there was demand for labor in urban based industries. But this is not always the case in developing M countries are more a function of rural problems than the urban attractions (Kenfe, 2001:46). Like other developing countries of the world, our country Ethiopia, the process of migration is not a new phenomenon. The various population induced by trade, slave trade, national disaster, war-fare, famine and etc are mark the history of the country. The country has been undergoing rapid urbanization particularly during the past four-five year (Kebede, 1994:34) As different studies show migration related impacts are more serious in our country, more specifically, Sodo town, a place where this issue is very common led to a number of socio economic impacts in the community. Therefore, this study focuses on assessing the issue of rural to urban migration in sodo town. # b) Statement of the problem In Ethiopia like other less developed countries large numbers of people continuously migrate to urban centers. This is because of the pushing rural problem and pulling urban attractions respectively, the major rural problems are poor employment, natural disaster, harsh climate, law wages, political instability and housing shortage and etc, on the other hand urban pulling factors such as political stability, improved housing, high living standard, high wages, employment opportunity, favorable climate, fair services and etc that attracts people towards urban areas (Nigatu, 2004:125). The problem of migration in developing countries in now a boutduntly clear because the rate of rural to urban migration continue to exceed the rate of job creation and the absorption capacity of both industry and urban social service (Todaro, 1969:334). Migration to cities and towns accelerates existing problems adding to urban un employment, increasing pressure on housing resources, traffic congestions social and psychological stresses amongst the urban population and poverty is wide spread and expanded in cities and towns of Ethiopia (Birru, 2004:125). In Wolaita Zone there are four ten wored as and three city administration. Sodo town is administrative and trading center it is located at the center of roads to and seven entering gate. This geographical location of the town and other facilities has been encouraging a number or rural to urban migration searching for better employment, public service and better living conditions (Nigatu: 2004) A number of migrants have been migrated to Sodo town from sodozuriaworeda, Damote Gale worda, Demote weydeworda, Areake town, Boditi town Humboworda, Damote sore worda, off aworda, kendo dedayeworda, Bolso sore worda, Bolosobonbeworda, Damotepulase kendo koyesheworda, Duguenefange and Dawero zone and Gamogofa zone etc. This numbers of Migrants have been observed creating a number of challenges such as over population un employment, hissing problems, congestion in social services, health problems, drug abuse, expansion of different criminal activities and etc (Nigatu, 2004). Some studies have been conducted regarding socio economic impacts of rural -urban migration in the town. However, it could not bring remarkable solution to problems in the town and unable to give fair enough information to local areas people, administrative bodies and nongovernmental organizations, therefore a student researcher tried to fulfill the gaps that was observed in the previous studies and attempted to provide a solution to the problems for the concerned bodies. # c) Objectives of the study i. General objective The general objectives of this study are assessing the socio economic impacts of the ruralurban migration in Sodo town, in Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia. # ii. Specific objectives The specific objectives of this study are to:-? To identify the major socio economic impacts of rural to urban migration in the destination area. # Chapter Two # II. Review of Related Literature a) Definition and concepts of migration Migration is difficult to define, but it involves a permanent or quasi-permanent change in residence of twelve months or more. Different scholars and disciplines define migration differently. According to the United Nations multilingual demographic dictionary, migration is a form of geographical mobility between one spatial origin and another, generally involving a change of residence from place of origin to the place of destination (Abuzar, 2001). According to Befkadu and Berhanu (2000), Migration is the movement of people in space often involving a change in the place of residence. For John R. (2003) Migration is defined as any permanent changes in residence. It involves the detachment from organization of activities at one place and the movement of the total round activities to others. Thus most aspect of migration is that it is spatial by definition. Most Year 2017 demographers argue that migration must involve an essential permanent territorial shift in residence to be distinguished from mobility, hence travelers and commuters are excluded from migration. To joy a movement migration, it should to have involve permanent change in place of residence, Demographers luck single operational definitions for migration because it occurs under different conditions. However, although heterogeneous factors make a universal definition in possible in general migration is in which an individual {group of people} shift their residence from one place to other. Migration can be personal who move to another area city or town with in a nation, job seeker who move to another country (region) for better economic opportunities (Kebede, 1994), A part from its spatial context migration also implies the disruption of work, schooling social life and another socio-economic condition Migration can also be defined as a movement of people in or migration adds to (subtract from) areas on population depending on whether there is little or natural increase from the excess of birth over death (Nigatu, 2004: 124). # b) Types of Migration In broadly speaking there are two types of migration based on the area od space affected by migratory movement. These are internal and international migration i. Internal migration Internal migration is the movement of people within the territorial jurisdiction of sovereign countries. It is also referred to as domestic or local migration. They have four types of internal migration can be identified rural-urban migration, rural migration, urban-urban migration and urban -rural migration. The rural-urban migration is urban ward population movement from rural areas or country side caused by rural push factors and urban pull factors. This is the main features of LDCS. High rural population density aggravated by growing poverty is the main push factors the compels rural population to leave their place of origin such rural areas suffer from horrifying poverty, un employment, law and uncertain wages, land shortages and land lessens and poor facilities for educators health, recreation and other service are also equally important push factors. By compares, the pull of the urban area may include better employment opportunities: regular and higher wages, fixed working hours, better amenities of living, facilities for education and socio cultural activates, But the growing movement of people from rural to urban areas has resulted in rapid rate of urbanization and rural de-population. # ii. International Migration International migration is a kind of human movement across the international boundary nations. It may take, the form of international or intra continental; it could happen voluntarily or compellation. It occurs in response to an equal distribution of human and physical resources. The most important of international migration in terms of volume and frequency of movement of people was the Trans-Atlantic European movements. This happened between 17 to mid 20 th century. The second wave of Trans -Atlantic European movement was directed to the temperate. Grass lands of America, South Africa. Australia and New Zealand. This last one was the biggest human movement in history that involved about one fifth of Europeans total population. When migrant cross an international boundary the movement is called international migration. However, if the movement is within a national territory, it is referred to as internal migration. A movement in which migrant arrives at the last destination after a series of short term moves to other location is refers to step migration. When people move out with the intention of returning back to their place of origin after a few months or season or more, this Movements is called seasonal migration seasonal migration takes places commonly in rural Ethiopia. During peak and slack seasons of agricultural labor migration can take the form of refuge migration, when people move for political reasons, war, ethic confects and discrimination or religious persecution or evacuees like earth quake, volcanic eruption, flooding drought etc and resettlement migration, when people are displaced by wars, natural climates etc are moved by governmental to new location generally, given assistance in order to establish themselves there in. # c) The causes of Migration The researcher have shown that it is usually is not just one factors, but combination of factors have led people to move from their areas of origin to other destination, in the case of rural-urban migration, some of the key factors some migration literatures showed that because of poverty millions of people are driven from their home land to other destinations (De BLIJ, 1996). In Ethiopia in particular, due to both economic and non economic reasons, many people are forced to migrate from are place to another, for example, from the economic factors, un pleasantly and intolerable living and working conditions and problems like population pressure, scarcity of farm land, environmental degradation and declining productivity and overall economic deterioration forced a number of people to migrate from rural to urban area in search of employment, better job opportunities and better living conditions (Assefa, 1999). Concerning the economic factors 'Todaro's expected income' Model of migration worth mentioning here. In his most pronounced economic theory of migration, Todaro 91969, 1976) behavior of rural to urban migration in terms of the income differentiation and the migrants expectation of obtaining an urban job in the urban formal sectors. Todaro's Migration Model has four characteristics 1. The fact that migration is stimulated primarily by rational economic conditions of relative benefits and costs mostly financial but also psychological. 2. the decision to migrate depends on expected rather that actual urban rural wage differentials 3. The probability obtaining of an urban job is inversely related the urban un employment rate 4. Migration rate in excess of job opportunity growth rate are not only possible but also rational and even likely in the face of wide urban rural expected income differential high rate of un employment are, therefore, inevitable outcomes of the serous imbalances of economic opportunities between urban rural area of the most under developed countries (Todaro, 1969(Todaro, : 1976). # d) The impacts of Migrations The impact of Migration is complex, depending on the types of migration involved. Generally, Migrants affect not only the economic and social environment of both origin and distention areas in any types of migrations but also their own living and working conditions as well (Barrett, 1992: 152). e) The consequences of Migration It has widely been recognized that migration that affects the area of out -migration, area of inmigration movements are the expression of reallocation of human resources and physical resources in both areas (Chandana, 1999) An increase in migration to an area increases the density of population of that area. These increases the areas burden up on its resources or may force the society to exploit its resource more than the usual it used to. The rural 0migraants moving to the new industrial towns suffer from lack of open space and relatively new dietary habits. Whenever migrants arrive in groups they also bring their cultures that would result intermediary of cultures. Sometimes, the physical contact of the people belonging to different racial group /families may exchange genetically traits. Chapter Three III. # Materials and Methods # a) Research Design The study researcher utilized mixed approach i.e. qualitative and quantitative approach. This is because to find out how people feel about socio economic impacts of rural to urban migration in the town qualitative approach was used where as to express the problems in terms of quantity and measurements quantitative approach is used. # b) Sampling techniques and sample size Regarding the sampling techniques the study researcher used purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Purposive sampling is used for those informants from governmental and nongovernmental organizations because their opinion is relevant to the problem under study. Simple random sampling techniques were employed for migrant respondents. This was used because they are key informants and potential sources of information in general and the problem in particular. According to 2007 E.C population census the total population of Sodo town was 102,922. Out of these 54,315 were males and 48,607 were females. To male the study easier the student researcher collected information from 56 respondents. From the whole respondents 30 males and 36 females were selected for interview and questionnaire. # c) Types and sources of data The researcher used both primary and secondary sources to achieve the objectives of the study. The primary sources include governmental official, non-governmental organization workers and key informants Secondary sources were published and unpublished materials and internet. # d) Methods of data collection To obtain sufficient information, the primary data sources were collected from government official and non-government organization workers through questionnaire and from migrant respondents by interview. The secondary data and un published materials. i. Questionnaire The study researcher prepared questionnaires for three governmental and three non-governmental employees prepared list of questions were distributed for the samples and they responded based on the instructions. ii. Interview An interview was held as a method of data collection to obtain valuable information from the selected fifty migrant respondents to get information about the problem under study. e) Data collection procedure Data was collected through the following stages first questionnaire and interview were prepared in English language and translated tow olay it a to (local language) because all respondents can speak and write the language. f) Method of data analysis Year 2017 The data collected through questionnaire and interview was analyzed and interpreted by using both qualitative and quantitative method of data analysis. # g) Ethical consideration There was some process before conducting the study in the area. Issues such As letter from the department to the concerned bodies, respondents feeling and characteristics and other main issues were considered to get full and genuine information from the respondents and different stakeholders. Besides the ethical consideration, The student researcher would use clear words during the preparation of questionnaire and interview. # Chapter Four IV. The town wolaitasodo has 37 square kilometer wide and high road way passing through the town has seven gate way Five major transport routes connect Sodo with the neighboring zones and regions. These are Alaba-Shashemene (via-Boditi), Hossaina-Butajira-Addis Ababa (via-Areka), Waka-Taracha-Jima-MizanAman and Bonga (via-Bele), Arbaminch-Jinka (via-Tebela) and Goffa Sawula (via-Gesuba). # Description of the Study Area # c) Socio-economic condition In the last five years, the socio-economic development of the town was hopeful for the development of the town. The education sector boosted to 15 The study area has characterized by different land forms like plain lands, plateau, gorges and rugged train system. The highest and the lowest altitude of the town from 166600-1900 meter above sea level average altitude of the town is1800 meter above sea level. The mean annual temperature and rain fall of is maximum 29 0 C, minimum 15 0 C and 1250 mm respectively. The temperature varies in summer; the town experiences sub humid type of climate gets rainfall twice in a year. It falls during "Belg" and "Kiremt" mostly the first falls from Megabit to Mid-may and the next comes from June to the end of September .Due to the town location in the up and down, and there is weather condition varying from day to night (Tamirate, 2008 ). Sodo town is part of south western high lands. The town is established at the foot of mount Damota, 2,200 meters above sea level and from this mountain, its altitude descends to all directions. The topographic feature of Sodo town contains plain lands, plateaus, gorges, and rugged terrain system. The relief of the town is mainly characterized by gorges and plain lands especially towards southern direction. The western, eastern, and north eastern parts of the town have undulating topography affecting the flow directions of surface and ground water. The sloppy nature of the town also aggravates erosion of surface soil (Solomon 2009). # e) Demographic and socio economic characteristics According to the result of housing and population census May, 2007 sodo town has population of 102,922, out of this 54,315 males and 48,617 females with the annual population growth rate about 5.3% f) Administrative Structure of the Town Wolaita Sodo is the capital town of Wolaita Zone as well as Sodo Zuria Woreda. In its administration jurisdiction, the town is divided into three-sub-towns The town was serving as a center for Soddo Zuriaworeda under the administrative structure of previous Semen Omo zone until 2000. Since 2000, Sodo town became the capital of Wolaita administrative zone. This status of the town is believed to exert considerable impact on the concentration and growth of population. Because, several Offices and departments that have not been existed before the new administrative structure were established and resulted in high inflow of civil servants to the town (Habitamu, 2013). g) The land use The total amount of land use of the town is 37 square kilometers, the current existing urban boundary of the town is about 1,333.09 hectors out of which about 70% is found to be already built up and the remaining 29.25% non-built up area .Concerning the land use pattern most of the land used for residential purpose, the rest of the land used for commercial and industrial purpose. The central part of the town has good road accessibility and used for commercial and industrial purpose and the peripheral area is reserved for industrial purpose, where they are few plastic, floor factors and of gas oil reserved is found (Habtamu, 2013). # Result and Discussion The researcher analyzed the already collected data and showed in the following three major parts, namely, the demographic characteristics of migrants the social status of migrants and the consequence of migration. # a) Demographic characteristics of migrants In this part of the data analysis the demographic characteristics of the respondents such as sex, marital status and age are analyzed. The study has tried to identify the sex groups whether females or males are more vulnerable to migration. As indicated in the above table, the proportion of male migrants is greater than female migrants. From the total respondents male migrants account 70% and the female migrants account the remaining 30%. As Abdurrahman 1987) stated "rural urban migration particularly to large cities and towns is dominated by males than females since males are sensitive to migrate than females" # Volume XVII Issue I Version I This show that males are highly migrant than the females because females in rural areas are mostly dominated by the society to be home worker. # ii. Age distribution of migrants The researcher tried to identify that which group was highly migrate as shown in the bare graph below Bare graph indicates that the high proportion of migrants is categorized under the age of 22-32 which accounts 64% of the total migrants. The second largest migrants are found under age group of 11-21 having 28% of the whole migrants and those migrants under the age of 33-43 are ranked in the third places with 6% of the total migrants. The remaining 2% of the found in the age group of the above 43.this indicates that people within the age integrity and as showed by many demographers people with in this age are highly sensitive to change. Source: Field survey may, 2016 iii. # Marital status of the migrants The study examined migrants based on marital status to know whether the majority of the migrants are single, divorced, married or widowed. As shown on the table 1.4 48% of the total migrants are found under the educational status of grade 1-6 while the migrants who are illiterate can't read and write and those who are in grade 7-8 accounts 28% and 18% of the total migrants respectively. 6% of the migrants have educational level of grade 9-10. Therefore table shows that most of the migrants are under the educational status of grade 1-6 and as stated by Todaro (1969) # Volume XVII Issue I Version I # Respondents Religion As indicated on the table most rural-urban migrants are single having 72% of the total number of migrants. Those migrants who are divorced are ranked in the second place having 12% of the total migrants. The remaining 10% of the migrants are married and the migrants who are widowed account 6% of the total number of migrants. This indicates that the single or un married migrants are more vulnerable to migration than other portion of the society; As Lewis (1998) showed the singles have not that much family responsibility and they are highly vulnerable to motivation given by friends, who are early migrants. iv. Educational status of migrants This is the part of analysis that deals with the educational status, religious, housing and health conditions of migrants. # ( B ) Global Journal of Human Social Science -Year 2017 As indicated in the above graphs them a majority of the migrants having 52% of the total respondents are followers of protestant religion and 36% of the migrants are the followers of orthodox religion. b) Housing status of the migrants From the below table we can understand that most of the migrants who account 60% of the total migrants do not have the access to housing in the destination area and the remaining 40% have the access to housing. The migrants who do not have the access to housing live on street (avenue). The remaining catholic and Muslim religion followers account 8% and 4% of the total number of migrants respectively. Source: Field survey may, 2016 As the above 1.8 shows that most of the migrants who cover 52% of the total migrants did not have information about Sodo town before they come, where as 48% of the total migrants had information about Sodo town earlier. As the above table 7.9 indicates the majority of the migrants who cover 50% had got information about Sodo town from early migrants, while 30% of the migrants got information from people who lead their life going and coming to Sodo. The remaining 12% of the migrants got information because self visiting of the town, where as migrants who got information from mass media account 8% of the total migrants i. Problems of Sodo town Due to high rate of rural -urban migration in Sodo town the following problems have been identified: un employment, Vulnerability to streets, and position, environmental effects of migration (i.e. Huge waste, crime, violence's, shortage of housing, illegal trade (contraband) etc. Concentration of people which can be due to migration or natural increase in urban areas where regarded as essential for the economy of scale. However, the available data shows that migration of the people have different socio-economic impacts. # Distrubation of respondents by housing status ii. Problems on the origins According to the information from the respondents and the key information's the effect of migration is not limited only to urban (destination) place but migration also has a negative impacts in rural areas /place of origin). The identified problems include:-? Loss of labor forces relevant to agricultural productivity ? Loss of assistant to old age parents ? Some cultivable lands are left underutilized because of migration of productive labor force ? It also results in further migration of rural people following the earlier migrants ? De population of the rural population iii. Problems on the migrants Many of the migrants have been observed facing different problems in the destination area such as low income, health problem, un employment, housing problem etc. As the table 7 indicates 40% of the migrants are faced with the problems of the low income at destination place, while migrants faced with un employment and housing problem accounts for 20% and 16% of the total migrants respectively. The remaining 12% and 8% of the migrants were faced with discrimination and health problem, where as 4% of the migrants to other problems such has shortage of the food. # iv. Problems on the town's residents According to the key informant because of large number of migrants the towns residents have been faced different problems. These problems include crimes such as theft, congestion in different infrastructural services such as rood and market instability, unemployment, pollution and cheating. # v. Occupational change Even though most of the migrants were depending on parent in original area the other depends on agricultural activity, trade and other occupations. Therefore, after coming to Sodo town these migrants who were involved in agricultural activities changed their occupations and employed in other activities. The study has tried to see the current occupational status of the respondents after they migrate to the area. The migrants currently engaged in different occupations such as daily worker, shoeshine, trade and others. The figure 5 shows at daily workers occupational status covered 40% shows at daily works from the total migrants and 28% is covered by unemployed, while 22% and 8% of occupation status are covered by small trade and shoe shine respectively. The remaining 2% of the total number of the migrants are engaged in other occupational such as messengers. # d) Population growth According to the key informants, currently in Sodo town the number of population is increasing from time to time. They said that one of the majors for population growth is the rural -urban migration of many people. From different woredas and kebeles people are coming to the town with the intention of getting job opportunity, better wage and better standard of living. But whether the migrants achieve their objectives of coming to Sodo or not they became the source of population growth in the town. The researchers key informants further argued that if the trend of migration will not decrease in the coming years the current population number will also increase. # e) Current income of migrants According to most of respondents the income of the migrants has not much changed they had no even better cloth from the time before migration and they live hand to mouth way of life. This is because in the town they don't get the expected job opportunities and high wage rather they are exposed to un employment and lower standard of living which could not enable them to have enough income. The government also prohibited some income providing activities by considering the activities illegal trade (contraband) i.e. selling, shoes and etc on the street. # f) Livelihood of the migrants before migration The study has tried to identify the source of livelihood for the migrants in their place of origin before they came to Sodo. As table 8 shows for 22% of the migrants agriculture was used as the sources of livelihood. Out of the total number of the migrants 18% and 48% of the migrants were using trade and parent income as a source of livelihood respectively before they migrate. The remaining migrants who were dependent on other livelihood such as living with others persons by selling their labor account 12% of the migrants. As indicated in the table most migrants were dependent on parent income as a source of livelihood before they migrate to Sodo. As indicated in the table 1.14 the major of the migrants who cover 70% out of the total migrants have the desire to return back to their original place because they didn't get the expected employment opportunity, better wage, high living standard although some of the migrants get some job, which they can't get enough income from it -following this low income and un employment problem they could not fulfill even their basic needs including clothing but 30% of the migrants do not want to go back to their original place because they have better income and employment. And they further said that the problems in the original area are worse than in destination area. g) The Original area of the majority of Migrants According to my informants and migrant respondents responses most of the migrants who cover around 80% came from the rural kebeles and 20% from rural woredas respectively. This shows that the majority of the migrants came from Wolaita zone, woredas and kebeles this is because of the nearness of these rural woredas and kebeles to Sodo town besides unemployment problems that exist there. # Chapter Six VI. # Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations a) Summary Migration is a form of geographical Mobility between one geographical unit to a certain destination by permanently or temporary. In Ethiopia like other less developed countries large number of people is migrating from rural urban centers by continuously according to (Nigatu, 2004: 125). The same is true about at Wolaita zone in Sodo town administration. There is the importance of socio-economic importance through conducting this research as a stepping stone and become source for further studies especially in Sodo town. Also they have some of limitations are budget constant, in adequate internet, computer services and information sources. Generally migration there is two types based on the areas are space coverage such as, Internal /domestic and International migrations. This both types of migration affect the economy, scarcity of productivity, population number with in different aspects. Those migrants not only affect the economic and social environment of both origin and destination but working activities. Basically this research data taken from 2007 E.C population census from Sodo town and both sampling techniques and sampling size collected by using primary and secondary sources by using the questionnaires and interview. # The physical The study shows that the majority of the migrants are migrated to Sodo town without any information about its employment opportunities, better wage and etc so this leads them to different socioeconomic problems in the town such as housing problem, health problems, discrimination, low income and unemployment. As the study shows most of the migrants are exposed to low income in Sodo town due to the Lawrence of better job opportunity, poor wage and excess labor. Among the migrants those who had good information about Sodo, the majority of them got the information from early migrants. The un employment problems of barer with family, farming land scarcity, low infrastructure in rural area attractive information about Sodo town, the expected better wage, job opportunity, better education and health services in the urban area are the major pushing and pulling factors of migration. Among the other things the most important pulling and pushing factors for migration as the study shows are the unemployment problem in rural area and the expectation of job in urban areas respectively. The migrants also created different socio-economic impacts on both the rural and urban areas as well. In urban areas the existence of these large numbers of migrants have created un employment problems pollution, expansion of theft, violence, market instability and expansion of illegal trade such as contraband. Following this rural-urban migration in rural areas to many parents left without assistant and some agricultural land are left unutilized and unproductive. The characteristics of study area location ally found in SNNPR and varied types of topography, climate, demography structure and social services. But the most of migrants are coming to Sodo town from different rural kebeles through the un employment problem that exist there. # b) Conclusion The major objective of the study was to examine the socio-economic impacts of rural urban migration in the case of Sodo town. The data necessary for the study were collected from a total of 56 respondents through questionnaire, case study, key informants, interview and other secondary data sources. After analyzing the data the researcher has made the following conclusion. The study shows that most of the migrants are male, adults. Less educated Protestants and many of them are unmarried by the time they migrate. This shows that people who are unmarried and who have no family obligation are more likely to migrate. These migrants who are in the age 16-51 and those who are single are the dominant migrants. study shows that the income of migrants is not that much changed, this is because of the absence of job opportunities and lower paid activities. As a result of this ![attempted to explain the Volume XVII Issue I Version I](image-2.png "") ![a) Physical characteristicsThe foundation of the town was back the period of Menlik II search palace for his military station .The name sodo town was founding during the time of emperor Menlik II in 1910 by the name of sodo nation (people) which live in SNNPR In sodo town. After the foundation the town, Sodo town municpale bureau was established. The fast growing of the town see after 2008 Ethiopia millennium such as Hospitals, stadium of sport, hotels, youth centres, water supply services are among the biggest. The study was conducted in sodo town, which is located in geographically in southern nations, nationalities and peoples region (SNNPR) part of wolaita zone which is about 383 km away from Addis Ababa the capital city of Ethiopia in south, 156 km from the capital city of SNNPR Hawassa in The town is located 37 0 20'-38 0 0 latitudes and 6 0 20' -7 0 20' longitude east in terms of Astronomical /absolute location. ( Sodo Town municipal office 2016) b) Area of the study](image-3.png "") f) Scope Delimitations of the studyThis study is delimited in Wolaita zone, Sodotown. The paper focused on dealing the socio economicimpacts of rural-urban migration in the study area.g) Limitation of the studyWhile conducting this research the researcherencountered short coming such as:--Unwillingness of some respondents to give fullinformation the researcher need to ask and lack ofdata he researcher needs to ask.-Budge constant-In adequate internet and computer service-Lack of financial time and material insufficiencyh) Organization of the study? To identify the dominant migratory groups on thebasis of age, sex, educational standards, maritalstatus and other socio economic characters of themigrants? To provide possible recommendations based on thefindingsd) Research questionsThis study tried to answer the following questions:-1. What are the major socio economic impacts of ruralto urban migration in the town?2. Who are the dominant migratory groups on thebasis of age sex, educational standards, maritalstatus and other socio economic characteristic ofthe migrants?3. What are the possible recommendations about thestudy?e) Significance of the studyConducting of the research on socio economicimpacts of rural to urban migration has the followingimportance Thereare 715 service Providing, 1016 retailer, 129 lightindustries of manufacturing, 153 whole sales,150Transport sector and 30 urban agriculturebusinesses are operating in the town (STA, 2011)d) Climatic Condition of the study area 1SexFrequencyPercentage %Male3570Female1530Total50100Source: field survey, 2016 2Marital statusFrequencyPercentage (%)Single3672Married510Divorced612Widowed36Total50100Source: Field survey may, 2016 3Educations statusFrequencyPercentage (%)Can't read and write14281-624487-89189-1036Total50100Source: Field survey may, 2016 4Do you have good information About Sodo town?FrequencyPercentage (%)Yes2652No2448Total50100Source: field survey may 20016 5Source of informationFrequencyPercentage (%)Early migrants2550From people who lead their by1530going and coming to SodoSelf visiting of Sodo612Mass media48Total5070Source: field survey may 20016 6Do you have any problem?FrequencyPercentage (%)Yes3774No1326Total50100Source: field survey may 20016As the table 1.10 shows the majority of migrantsdestination area where as 26% of them did not face anywho covers 74% of the total faced different problems inproblem. 7ProblemsFrequencyPercentage (%)Low income2040Un employment1020Housing problem816Discrimination612Health problem48Others24Total50100Source: field survey may 20016 8Source of livelihoodFrequencyPercentage (%)Parent income2448Agriculture1122Trade918Others612Total50100Source: field survey may 20016 9Do you want to return back to your original place?FrequencyPercentage (%)Yes3570No1530Total50100Source: field survey may 20016 Assessing Socio-Econmic Impect of Rural-Urban Migration in So o Town, SNNPR, Etiopia d © 2017 Global Journals Inc. (US) Assessing Socio-Econmic Impect of Rural-Urban Migration in So o Town, SNNPR, Etiopia d 17 Global Journals Inc. (US) © 2017 Global Journals Inc. (US) . http://www.write.com/causes-consequencesof-ruralurbanmigration Assessing Socio-Econmic Impect of Rural-Urban Migration in So o Town, SNNPR, Etiopia d Year 2017 migrants are in a problem of even fulfilling their basic needs such as clothing, food, shelter and education, it in turn leads to the expansion of crime such as cheating and theft. The study also indicates that the majority of the migrants come from Wolaita zone rural kebeles and woredas as the result of its proximity of Sodo town accompanied by the severe un employment problem in these rural wored as and kebeles. Because of the absence of the expected good job opportunities, better wage, better health and educational services, the migrants are exposed to different socio-economic problems even worse than the problems in the rural (original areas) therefore as the study show) the majority of the migrants have the desire to return back to their original area. ## c) Recommendation The study shows that the rural urban migration has created different problems on both the rural and urban areas such as unemployment, housing problem, Market instability, theft, low income, population and health problems and etc. the researcher has given the following recommendations as well as possible means of avoiding these problems and to reduce the ruralurban migration. In order to reduce the rate to the migrants in urban area it is very important develop informal sectors which will have a great importance in labor absorption and economic progress in urban areas. The town administration should give emphasis to the city to faster its successful urban development in the way that encourage private owner to open new industry at the time more balanced treatments to the development of rural areas which helps to decrease the migration of people from rural to urban areas. In order to reduce rural -urban migration the government should also develop infrastructural facilities to rural areas such as develop the education, health, rood telecommunication, pure water and sanitation etc. Developing the agricultural sector in rural area through introducing new labor incentives, agricultural technologies developing irrigation facilities, increase access of fertilizer and other financial and technical supports including awareness creation is also very important because the agriculture can absorb a lot of labor force and can minimize the motivation to migrate. Creating more urban modern sectors, job simultaneously improving rural incomes and employment opportunities which enable the migrants not to decide to leave their original place and if they migrate, the exercise of modern sector jobs in urban area can be absorb the migrants. In urban areas the government should facilitate housing services for the migrants in order to protect the health of the migrants and other problems happen on the migrants such as theft and rape. The government should create better job opportunity by organizing the migrants to work together by creating different micro and small enterprises which helps to increase the income of the migrants and reduce unemployment and other theft activities. Improving creating educational access to the migrants is also important in order to make them creative and to involve in better income generating activities. This also enables them to contribute to the development of the town because they will involve in other innovative activities Awareness creation must be highly done among the migrants about the absence of the expected good employment opportunities and better wage in Sodo town; it will weaken and enable them to stay in their original area. The government should help financial and equipment found for rural to urban migrants to settling in their original area /earlier places. * and Internal Migration in Ethiopia Msc. This is Demography Canberra Australian National University * Abuzer 92001). 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