Internal Migration and Labour Mobility

1. Demographic Shift and Rural-Urban Divide

• Mass Rural Exodus: Between 2005 and 2017, over 110,000 people left rural communities, causing the urban population to surge from 30.9% to 37.8%.

• Regional Imbalances: The Western region (Thimphu, Paro, Chhukha) is the primary destination, attracting 55.1% of all lifetime migrants.

• Structural Depopulation: Eastern Dzongkhags like Trashi Yangtse, Monggar, and Trashigang are experiencing "structural depopulation," with high migration efficiency ratios indicating significant net population loss.

• The Global Factor: Nearly 1 in 10 citizens (approx. 66,000) are now living or working abroad, significantly impacting the domestic labour supply.

2. Profile of the Bhutanese Migrant

Education-Driven: Migration is more prevalent among those with higher education (middle secondary to master's degrees). Non-migrants are concentrated in primary or non-formal education.

• Age Selective: Migration peaks in young adulthood (25-34 years) and declines sharply after age 40. A youth aged 15-19 is expected to move approximately 13 times in their remaining lifetime.

• Gendered Drivers: Male migration is primarily employment-driven (43.8% for new jobs or transfers), while female migration is largely family-related (36.6%) or due to marriage (19.8%).

3. Labour Market Dynamics

Sectoral Shifts: Migrants are predominantly in the service sector (58.3%) and industry (22.0%), whereas 51.4% of non-migrants remain in agriculture.
• The Unemployment Paradox: Despite moving for work, migrants face a higher unemployment rate (4.5%) than non-migrants (2.8%). Migrant youth (15-19) and urban female migrants (6.8%) are particularly vulnerable.
• Income Disparity: Non-migrants earn more on average (Nu. 31,990/month) compared to migrants (Nu. 22,855/month), likely due to better local labour market integration and stable employment for non-movers.

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