Internal Migration and Employment: Macro Flows and Micro Motives

Philip S Morrison and William A V Clark
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Philip S Morrison: School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
William A V Clark: Department of Geography, 1255 Bunche Hall, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

Environment and Planning A, 2011, vol. 43, issue 8, 1948-1964

Abstract: Empirical support for models of internal labour migration are usually based on observed patterns of net flows into local labour markets with relatively low unemployment and relatively high real wages. The inference drawn from such evidence is that internal migrants move to enhance returns to their labour. However, major surveys in the USA (Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and the Current Population Survey), the UK (British Household Panel Survey) and Australia (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) all show that less than a third of internal migrants are motivated primarily by employment reasons. This paper explores this apparent disconnect between net flows and motives using the Survey of Dynamics of Motivation and Migration, which has recorded in detail the reasons why over 6000 individuals moved within New Zealand over the two-year period 2005 and 2006. The survey confirms that only a minority of working-age migrants move between local labour markets primarily for employment reasons. Far from increasing returns to their employment, most migrants do not experience a rise in income or believe their employment prospects improved as a result of their move. Rather than being motivated by having their employment enhanced by internal migration, the majority of internal migrants of working age appear to be motivated by other goals. Employment remains important, but in most cases only insofar as the new destination enables its continuity.

Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:43:y:2011:i:8:p:1948-1964

DOI: 10.1068/a43531

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