Getting on their bikes? The labour market as a driver of the residential mobility decisions of residents in deprived neighbourhoods

Abstract

In recent times, interest in residential mobility in deprived neighbourhoods has grown in both the academic and policy communities in the UK. Members of both communities have argued that the labour market should be a key driver of mobility in deprived neighbourhoods, as they house a disproportionately large number of workless residents, a population group who should be willing to ‘get on their bikes’ and move to areas with greater employment opportunities. This paper provides an insight into whether they are, by drawing on data gleaned from residents living in six deprived neighbourhoods across the UK. It finds the labour market not to be an important driver of either past or anticipated mobility. Furthermore, for those residents who had ‘got on their bikes’ and moved relatively long distances to reside in their current neighbourhood, it did not appear to be a significant contributory factor behind their decision to do so.