Migration aspirations among youth in the Middle East and North Africa region

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa region has high unemployment rates for youth, and the number of youth not in education, employment, or training is also among the highest in the world. In this context, migration is one of the more obvious reactions of youth facing unmet aspirations in the labour market. This paper analyses the determinants of the intentions of youth to migrate during their school-to-work transitions in selected countries in the region. With this aim, microdata from School-to-Work Transition Surveys conducted by the International Labour Organization from 2013 to 2015 are used in this research covering Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tunisia. These surveys target a nationally representative sample of young people between the ages of 15 and 29 and include data on intentions to migrate (internal and international) and factors related to social and educational background. Microeconometric models are used in order to achieve a better understanding of factors influencing youth decisions to migrate.