9.3.6—Labour mobility

Geographical mobility is the ability to move between locations; occupational mobility is the ability to move between jobs or industries. Skills, housing, transport, family ties, immigration rules and information affect both.

High mobility helps labour markets match vacancies and can reduce structural unemployment, but moving has costs and may harm communities losing workers. Training raises occupational mobility only when it matches real opportunities.

A worker may be qualified for a vacancy but unable to relocate because housing is unaffordable; a short course may help occupational movement if employers recognise the skill.

Mobility is not simply willingness to move, and more mobility is not always socially costless or equally available to all workers.