The Role of Border Governorates in Redistribution of Population and Labour Force, Egypt, 1976-2015 (A Study in Labour Force and Regional Development)

The main objective of the study is to assess the extent of contribution of border governorates to the process of population and labour force distribution. The study also tries to estimate the growth of both population and labor force in border governorates, to measure the contribution of border governorates to the movements of population (internal migration), and to analyze the developments of characteristics of the population and  labour force in general, and the workers in particular. These governorates are: The Red Sea, The New Valley, Matrough, North Sinai, and South Sinai.
 
The five border governorates assume about 79% of the land area of the country. The total number of population in border governorates amounted to 1669 thousand persons as of mid-2015, i.e. less than 2% of the total population. The growth rates of population were nearly double those of the total population during most of the study period, except for the last year (2015). The natural increase rate (2.6%) is slightly higher than the national level (2.3%) in 2015. They attracted about 247000 persons during the period 1996-2006, representing only 5.2% of those who internally migrated at the national level. The major cause of population movement to border governorates was (looking for work) (43%), followed by (attendance) (42%), where the latter are the followers of the earlier. The urbanization level (68%) was seemingly higher than that of the national level (43%) as of 2006.
 
The total number of labour force in border governorates amounted to 592 thousand in 2015, i.e. about 2% of total labour force. The growth rates of such labour force are more than double those of the country level, during most of the study period, while they became even lower than the country level in 2015, as is the case with population. Refined activity rate was 65%, similar to that of the national level in 2006, but was increasing rapidly in border governorates. Unemployment rates during the period 1986-2006 (7%) were lower than those of the national level (about 11%). The border governorates are no longer able to attract more population and provide job opportunities. More than half the unemployed had secondary and higher education (57% in 2006 and 56% in 2015). The relative share of unemployed with university education and above increased rapidly from 21% in 2006 to 32% in 2015 at the national level, and even faster from 14% to 32% in border governorates.
The levels, patterns, and trends of educational status of the labour force are more or less similar to those of the national level. Female labour force is better educated than the male counterpart, at all levels. Employment status of the workers is dominated by "wage workers", at all levels. The "private sector" continued to be the major job provider, with a rapidly increasing trend at all levels. As for female workers, the "government" became the major job provider in border governorates. Workers with "the white collar occupations" (scientific, professional, technical, administrative, and managerial workers) assumed the first rank, with an increasing trend. The "community services sector" was the dominant one, with an increasing trend. The relative share of "agriculture" was lower and rapidly decreasing in border governorates, from 26% in 1996 to 15% in 2006.
The study recommends to adopt objective criteria to establish and cancel governorates. It is suggested to divide border governorates to be allocated to neighboring governorates. Any new universities are not to be established in the old Valley and Delta. Establishing new universities and faculties, especially those with theoretical specializations, in the established remote border communities. Executing development plans prepared for the current border governorates. Establishing any new regions (regardless of their number and nature) has to include complete governorates. Great interest has to be paid to establish new communities on cultivable lands in current border governorates.