Paper Details

This paper explores the intricate dynamics of rural-urban migration in South Asia and assesses the efficacy of various employment strategies implemented to tackle challenges within urban labor markets. South Asia has undergone rapid urbanization over recent decades, primarily propelled by rural-urban migration as individuals pursue improved economic opportunities. Nevertheless, this trend of migration has engendered considerable obstacles for urban labor markets, encompassing employment insecurity, informality, insufficient infrastructure, and social marginalization. This research scrutinizes migration patterns, determinants, and ramifications across key South Asian nations, critically assesses existing policy frameworks, and proposes integrated solutions to augment the absorption capacity of urban labor markets while enhancing the welfare of migrants. The findings indicate that successful strategies must amalgamate targeted employment generation, skill development initiatives, urban planning reforms, expansion of social protection, and coordinated regional cooperation, while simultaneously addressing gender disparities and concerns regarding environmental sustainability.

Rural-urban migration, Urban employment, South Asia, Informal economy, Labor policy, Urbanization