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Explaining low international labour mobility: the role of networks, personality, and perceived labour market opportunities

  1. Hendrik P. van Dalen1,2,*,
  2. Kène Henkens2,3

Article first published online: 30 SEP 2010

DOI: 10.1002/psp.642

Issue

Population, Space and Place

Population, Space and Place

Volume 18, Issue 1, pages 31–44, January/February 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

van Dalen, H. P. and Henkens, K. (2012), Explaining low international labour mobility: the role of networks, personality, and perceived labour market opportunities. Population, Space and Place, 18: 31–44. doi: 10.1002/psp.642

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Economics, Tilburg University, Center, Tilburg, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), The Hague, The Netherlands

  3. 3

    Department of Sociology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

*Department of Economics, Tilburg University, CentER, PO Box 90153, NL-5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 DEC 2011
  2. Article first published online: 30 SEP 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 SEP 2010

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Keywords:

  • labour mobility;
  • migration;
  • intentions

Abstract

Why is international labour mobility so low in high-income regions of the European Union? To shed light on this issue, we examine international labour migration intentions of the Dutch potential labour force. A key characteristic of intended (temporary) labour migration of the Dutch is that it occurs at a low level and is strongly age related. The low expected rate of migration is closely connected to (low) expectations about finding work abroad and the expectation that foreign work experience is not perceived to be of value to employers. In addition to these barriers to move abroad, it appears that the personality of potential migrants (nationalistic, risk averse) matters as well as the lack of social networks abroad. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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