Economic factors play a central role in driving human trafficking, acting both as push and pull forces in the complex web of exploitation. At the root, poverty and economic deprivation are among the most significant contributors. In regions where people lack access to stable employment, basic services, or sustainable livelihoods, the promise of better income or employment opportunities elsewhere becomes highly attractive. Traffickers exploit this vulnerability by offering false promises of jobs, education, or migration, knowing that individuals with limited financial resources are more likely to take risks that expose them to exploitation. The desperation caused by chronic poverty makes families more susceptible to coercion, sometimes even consenting to send children or relatives with traffickers, unaware of the dangers involved. Unemployment and underemployment further exacerbate vulnerability. In many developing countries, especially in rural areas, labor markets are saturated or informal, leaving individuals without formal work opportunities. This scarcity of legitimate economic options pushes people to accept irregular or unsafe work, making them prime targets for traffickers. Young people, particularly women and girls, are often disproportionately affected, as they may seek work in urban centers, domestic service, or foreign countries where traffickers can exploit both their economic vulnerability and lack of legal protection. The global demand for cheap labor in sectors such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and the sex industry creates a powerful pull factor for traffickers. Multinational supply chains seeking low-cost labor indirectly fuel human trafficking, as unscrupulous recruiters capitalize on the economic disparity between wealthy consumers and impoverished workers. Economic inequality within and between countries also plays a critical role. Large gaps between rich and poor create conditions in which people perceive migration or labor opportunities as the only viable path to survival or upward mobility. Regions with