Mobility in America Part 2 | What Motivates People to Move | Reasons to Move:Jobs

September 22, 2017  by Jane Chero in General   

With Mobility in America at an all-time historical low and only 11.2 percent of people moving from 2015 to 2016, what drives the current movers and leads them to change residence? This is the third factoid in series of four factoids that explores the “why” people have moved since 2000 and takes note of both the growing and declining trends.

Slow job growth this decade coupled with more conservative corporate transfer policies during recessionary times have kept people from moving for a new job or job transfer. However that trend is improving as only 7.8 percent of movers from 2009 to 2010 cited new jobs or transfers as reasons for moves, now up to 10.8 percent in 2016. Also on the rise is a desire to be closer to work and have an easier commute – up to 6.0 percent of movers from 2015 to 2016, almost double that of 2001. Other job related reasons for moves impacting less than 2 percent of movers included moving to look for work or after a lost job or retirement.

A person was more likely to make an employment-related move based on the type of job. Professional and Service jobs are geared toward mobility more than any other type of employment, representing 23.3 percent and 21 percent of job-related movers respectively. The next factoid in this series will focus on Housing as the leading reason for a household move.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement