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171: Rural in-migration a catalyst for economic regeneration

Research by Dr Aileen Stockdale, University of Aberdeen, and Prof. Allan Findlay, University of Dundee was carried out by interviewing sample families in 5 areas in England representing rural (Alnwick and Ashford, Kent), prosperous (South Warwickshire), mature (East Devon) and older industrial types (Wear Valley) of area.

Year of Publication2004

Research presented to the International Geographical Congress in Glasgow in August 2004 shows that incomers to rural areas are more economically active than long-term residents and create local jobs. This goes against their stereotype of being mainly retirees and commuters using the countryside as a dormitory. The job creation potential of self-employed migrants is important. On average for every self-employed migrant some 2.4 additional full-time jobs were created. In addition all migrants including those who are employees or retired generate jobs for others within the local economy because they support local businesses and services. However, few of the jobs created match available local skills. The survey differentiates between local movers who have come to an area from less than 15km away and longer distance incomers. Incomers tend to be younger than long term residents but local movers tend to be younger still. Local movers were persuaded to move mainly by better housing whilst incomers moved mainly for better jobs or business opportunities. However, quality of life was important to both groups. Local movers earned less than incomers. The report concludes that attention needs to be devoted to ways of attracting self-employed migrants. Existing strategies favour large-scale inward investment, rather than small, locally-owned businesses. Moreover, because quality of life is such an important motivation for moving, imaginative schemes are needed to draw entrepreneurial incomers to the less attractive (often ex-industrial) areas.

This item is categorised as follows

• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > Economic development
• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > UK rural policy

Additional keywords/tags

migration rural communities