Labourers Migrating to the Construction Sector in the State of Haryana: An Analysis of Push and Pull Factors

Abstract

Migration is a global phenomenon which has a vital role in any region’s economic development. This study examines the major push and pull factors of the migration of labourers towards the construction sector of the state of Haryana. Alongside this, the study also sheds light on the socio‐economic conditions of migrant labourers. For this purpose, the study was conducted among 200 migrant labourers engaged in the construction sector of Hisar, Rohtak, Panipat, and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana, with the help of a well-designed questionnaire. It has been found that among the pull factors— higher wages, job opportunities, and consistent work are the major causes of migration. Among push factors, unemployment and low wages are responsible for migration from their native place to their place of destination. Apart from this, wage differences and better living standards also attract labourers to Haryana. So far as improvement in the status of migrants’ is concerned, the study found that the socio-economic status of migrant labourers has improved after they migrated to the state of Haryana.