The low skilled are less mobile geographically because of the meagre value of work

Survey evidence has shown that those with low skill levels are less likely to move. Many in academic and policy circles believe this is caused by relatively high moving costs. In new research that examines people’s motivations for moving, Michael Amior finds that the meagre value of low skilled jobs is the major factor restricting their geographical mobility. Workers have little incentive to search for jobs in other cities, and firms are reluctant to invest in long distance recruitment. As a result, he writes, low skilled workers in declining cities are often forced to move speculatively (at great cost), without a job in hand.