Informal Employment and Inequality: Implications for Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa

A sizable level of informal employment, often stemming from social disparities and limited economic opportunities, can have great implications for migration in Sub-Sahara Africa. Similarly, inequality, particularly unequal access to economic resources in the formal sector, can serve as a key driver for migration as people seek better opportunities. Therefore, this study investigates the individual impact of the size of informal employment and inequality on migration within the region by examining the individual effects of informal employment and inequality as well as their interactive effect on migration. Utilizing System GMM method of analysis, the study examined the data from 43 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2009 to 2022. The findings suggest that both informal employment and inequality positively influence migration flows in the region. Additionally, the analysis shows that the interaction between informal employment and inequality exerts a negative effect on migration flow.