Labour migration has long been an important livelihood strategy for most people in search of jobs and livelihood sustenance. The increase in the trend of labour migration in Nigeria in the last few decades and its attendant challenges has necessitated this study. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of labour migration on livelihood development in selected towns of Kwara State, Nigeria. The objectives were to:(i) assess the pattern of labour migration in the study area; (ii)examine the pattern of livelihood development; (iii) examine factors affecting labour migration and livelihood development;(iv) assess the impact of labour migration on the standard of living of the migrants; and (v) examine the relationships between labour migration and livelihood development. rnSystematic random sampling technique was used to select 530 heads of household in 18 randomly selected medium-sized towns in nine out of the sixteen Local Government Areas of Kwara State using questionnaire administration. Factor analysis was used to depict pattern differentiation of labour migration and livelihood development. Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between labour migration and livelihood development. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting labour migration and livelihood development at 0.05 level.rnrnThe findings of the study were that:rnrni. the factor analysis procedure reduced the 14 labour migration variables to five orthogonal factors namely: skills acquisition index (33.2%), age and social issues index (16.8%), education and locational attraction index (13.8%), income enhancement index (8.3%) and retirement policy index (7.9%), suggesting redundancy in other variables;rnii. the 18 livelihood development variables were reduced to four orthogonal factors namely: family enhancement index (50.5%), income enhancement index (12.6%), wealth index (9.2%) and asset enhancement index (7.0%);rniii. the stepwise multiple regression method showed that age, education, skill experience, security- social problems and improved income together explained 63.7% of the variance in labour migration, while average income, earning above minimum wage, earning below minimum wage and family asset together explained 79.1% of the variance in the explanation of livelihood development;rniv. there were significant impact on the livelihood of respondents after migration. Migrants earning below N10,000 decreased by 16.8% after migrating, while those earning N10,000 and above increased by 16.9%; andrnv. results of canonical correlation analysis showed that strong association exists between labour migration and livelihood development. Skills acquisition (0.92), family enhancement index (0.54), average monthly income index (0.55) and asset enhancements index (0.54) strongly correlated. Education and locational attraction (0.84) strongly correlated with family enhancement index (0.84). Income enhancement (0.78), wealth index (0.72) and improved income index (0.64) are strongly correlated. While, retirement and government policy (0.80) correlated highly with wealth index (0.62) and asset enhancement index (0.72).rnThe study concluded that significant relationship exists between labour migration and livelihood development in Kwara State thereby encouraging intensive labour migration. The study recommended the establishment of entrepreneurial skills centers for community development to improve earning capacities of migrants.