Findings Barriers for Job-Seeking Migrant Youth in Yangon

As part of his six-month internship program at the institute, Kyaw Tun Aung conducted a small-scale survey with the collaboration of Ni Ni Htwe and under the methodological guidance of Pyai Nyein Kyaw. The survey addresses the barriers that young migrants to Yangon face when seeking jobs. A native from Debayin, Sagaing Region, Ko Kyaw knows first-hand how difficult the situation has been for young economic migrants, especially since the military coup of February 2021. He offers us here the survey findings.

This research explores the challenges faced by young migrants from rural areas in Yangon, Myanmar, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and political upheaval. The study conducted in this report utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods, including a combination of a survey, interviews, and desk reviews. Results from the survey showed that the primary reasons for migration to Yangon were a lack of job opportunities and low wages in rural areas, as well as a search for better education. However, new findings suggest that the political instability in rural areas following the military coup is accelerating the process. During the pandemic, young people from urban areas lost their jobs due to the closure of most companies and industries to prevent the spread of the virus in Myanmar. After the pandemic, they came to Yangon to find a job. Over the past two years, many young people from rural areas moved to Yangon due to the political instability. The report highlights the determination and resilience of these young people in their pursuit of better opportunities despite significant obstacles. It sheds light on important issues related to labor rights and migration in Myanmar and provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders addressing these issues.

The people of Myanmar have, for many decades, chosen to migrate to overseas countries in order to make a better living and flee armed conflicts in ethnic areas. According to the 2014 census in Myanmar, there were more than two million workers employed abroad that year. This research was primarily conducted to gain insight into the obstacles that young people encounter when seeking employment in Yangon and to identify strategies for overcoming these challenges. The report begins with an overview of the context in which youth migration occurs in Myanmar, highlighting the economic and political factors that drive migration from rural areas to urban centers like Yangon. It then provides a detailed description of the research methods used in the study, including information on sample size, data collection techniques, and analysis procedures. The findings include an analysis of the primary reasons for migration among young people, an exploration of the barriers they face when seeking employment, and a discussion of their strategies for overcoming these obstacles. The report concludes with a set of recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders. These recommendations are designed to help address some of the key challenges identified in the study and to promote more inclusive policies and practices that support youth migrants’ access to decent work opportunities.

Methodology

The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods through a combination of surveys, interviews, and desk reviews. The survey was designed to collect data on the primary reasons for migration among young people, as well as the barriers they face when seeking employment in Yangon. The survey questions were mainly closedtype questions, with some open-ended questions included to gain more insight from respondents. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit 49 survey respondents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 Key Informants who are members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focusing on labor rights and migration. Follow-up questions were used to ask the interviewees about their experiences and perspectives on youth migration and employment in Yangon. Desk review included news coverage and reports by UN agencies and other organizations. It is important to note that this study has some limi- tations. For example, the sample size for both surveys and interviews was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of findings. Additionally, due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time of data collection, all surveys were conducted online which may have excluded some potential participants who did not have access to technology or internet connectivity.

Findings and Results

The findings and results of this report reveal several key insights into the challenges faced by youth migrants in Yangon. The survey results confirm many commonly acknowledged reasons for explaining migration of youth to Yangon, including lack of job opportunities, low wages in rural areas, and a search for better education in Yangon (Fig. 1). Two-thirds of survey respondents reached Yangon before the COVID-19 pandemic; most migrants interviewed moved to Yangon more than two years before the pandemic. Over two-thirds of survey respondents moved to Yangon in order to get a higher wage and also because of a lack of job opportunities in their native places and low wages there. The second reason for migrating to Yangon is for education purposes as there are many public and private universities in Yangon. However, the interviews also highlight that security issues due to the military takeover and the subsequent deteriorating political instability in rural areas are now playing a significant role in the migration.

From the survey results, income of young migrants’ families comes from agriculture, trading, and other sources such as family businesses, government staff, pensions, and company staff (Fig. 2). However, family income is usually not enough to meet the family’s basic needs. As a result, it is necessary for migrant workers in Yangon to support their families back home and transfer a portion of their salary. The study found that nearly two-thirds of migrant workers send money monthly to their family— this rate, however, may not be representative of all internal migrant workers.

When young migrants from rural areas seek a job in Yangon, Facebook is the main platform where to find a job as indicated by nearly half of the respondents. The second and third avenues for job-searching migrants are job portal websites and networks among friends and acquaintances (Fig. 3). One interviewee mentioned the following about job seeking,

“Seeking a job is inquiring [for myself] to get the information from the factory and apply to [the job].”

After the COVID-19 pandemic and in this post-coup period, job opportunities in Yangon are fewer and fewer. a situation caused by the political instability and subsequent economic crisis.

Youth migrants face significant barriers when seeking employment in Yangon. Discrimination based on ethnicity or place of origin is one such barrier. Many employers prefer candidates from urban areas or those with existing connections to the em- ployers’ social networks. Lack of access to information about job opportunities is another significant barrier faced by youth migrants. They often rely on personal networks for job leads rather than formal channels such as online job boards or recruitment agencies.

Limited social networks also pose a challenge for youth migrants seeking employment in Yangon. Many young people who move from rural areas may not have established social networks in urban centers like Yangon, which can make it difficult for them to find work or access support services.

Despite these challenges, youth migrants demonstrate resilience and determination in their pursuit of better opportunities. They use a variety of strategies to overcome obstacles, including relying on personal networks for job leads and seeking out training programs or apprenticeships.

Many respondents look for jobs in companies and non-profit organizations in Yangon (Fig. 4). After the 2021 coup, many government of - ficials, as well as students, teachers, and doctors in state hospitals, were involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). The political climate worsened and, as a result, most young people today are reluctant to apply for jobs in the government sector. Young migrants have no choice but to choose jobs in other sectors, concentrating on securing any type of job to survive and meet their basic needs in this current crisis.

Many young migrants also engage in informal work, such as street vending or day labor, to make ends meet while they search for more stable employment . Informal jobs can be risky and unstable, but they provide a source of income for many young people who may not have other options.

The survey found that nearly half of the respondents are not familiar with the environment and transportation system of Yangon. This proves to be the largest difficulty. The second largest difficulty is the job seekers’ lack of digital proficiency, which may be required for certain jobs. One of the survey respondents said that:

“I [do not have] a degree, job experience and [cannot] use mobile phones effectively to apply for jobs. Therefore, I could not apply for [any of them].”

The third largest difficulty is the difference between rural or urban lifestyles and the difference of the pace of life in the village as opposed to that of the city.

According to the results of the survey, the main credentials required from employers is work experience (82% of them shared this view). Other common requirements for job-seekers are a bachelor’s degree, skills in computer literacy, and language proficiency. It means that young migrants usually must complete a degree and have computer and language proficiency to apply for a job in Yangon. In the job application process, employers ask workers about their job experience and education. One of the interviewees said:

“The factory gave me a job but I could not get much money because I did not pass the examination in high school compared to my friend who passed it and is more clever than me. Therefore, she got a better job as an accountant in the factory. I got a difficult job in the cutting position. And I work harder in this workplace than her. But the wage difference is about forty or fifty thousand kyats. It also varies between positions and depending on the education background.”

Therefore, policymakers and stakeholders can help address these challenges by suggesting investment in education and skills training programs for youth migrants. These programs can help young people develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed on the job market and increase their chances of finding stable employment. Promoting inclusive hiring practices among employers is another important strategy for tackling these barriers.

Discussion and Conclusion

The study highlights the significant challenges faced by young migrants from rural areas when seeking employment in urban centers like Yangon.

Youth from rural areas struggle to apply for and secure a job: most lack computer literacy, work experience, and familiarity with the Internet.

In the job-seeking process, there are many discriminatory practices that exist among employers. These challenges include discrimination based on ethnicity or place of origin, limited access to information about job opportunities, and a lack of established social networks. Therefore, young migrants from rural areas have less opportunities when compared with young people who have lived all their life in cities.

A significant finding from the survey can be observed: zero percent of the total respondents answered that they would apply to government servant positions when asked what type of job they are looking for. Due to the impact of the military coup, there is a decrease in the public’s trust in the public sector now under the control of the military administration.

In the future, policymakers should place emphasis on local job opportunities in rural areas and promote youth participation in community development—as a result of these opportunities, young people will both acquire new skills through experiential learning and gain job opportunities. Policymakers need to consider both the impact of the current political upheaval on young migrants from rural areas and the ways to support youth communities in the post-conflict period.

Another important recommendation is the need to promote inclusive hiring practices among employers. This could involve providing incentives for employers who hire young migrants or implementing policies that require companies to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Employers could also be encouraged to provide mentorship or apprenticeship opportunities for young people, which would help them build their professional networks and gain valuable work experience.

However, it is important to recognize the resilience and determination demonstrated by young migrants in pursuing better opportunities despite significant obstacles. By supporting these young people through targeted policies and programs that address their unique needs, we can help promote more inclusive economic growth that benefits all members of society.

In conclusion, this study provides insights into the challenges faced by young migrants from rural areas when seeking employment in urban centers like Yangon. By implementing policies and practices that support young migrants’ access to decent work opportunities, we can help build a more equitable and sustainable economy that benefits the community.