Applying longitudinal statistics in migration analysis: A case study of migration among young adults in Northern Norway

Abstract

The coupling of different databases unlocks numerous possibilities for research on people's movements over time. The article shows how time series data can be converted to longitudinal statistics and how longitudinal data enable migration careers to be traced over several years. This is demonstrated by an analysis of the mobility patterns of persons in the age group 20–25 years in Northern Norway over a five-year period, with regard to the frequency and different types of migration, and the selection processes manifested in long-distance migration. Northern Norway is a peripheral region characterised by large distances between population centres, low population density, and an economy dependent upon raw materials. There are long distances to large labour market clusters both within the region and elsewhere in Norway. The analysis of the settlement patterns and migration careers indicates that the majority of the young adults, both male and female, did not migrate. Rather, the flow of migrants was created by a minority within the studied population. Further, female long-distance migrants to Southern Norway moved back to Northern Norway to a greater extent than men. The study nuances understanding of the migration patterns and demonstrates the value of applying longitudinal statistic in migration analysis.

Keywords:

• longitudinal statistics
• migration frequency
• migration pattern
• selection process in migration

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank senior researcher Bernt Johansen for producing the map (Figure 1) and Professor Michal Jones for editing the manuscript. I also thank Professor Haldis Valestrand, Catriona Turner, and the two anonymous referees for their detailed and fruitful comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

Notes

1 K. Sørlie, ‘Den folketallsmessige utfordringen: Hvor kan det ende? Foredrag.’ Dyrøyseminaret, Dyrøy, 14–15 September 1998 (unpublished lecture).

2 See endnote 1.

3 Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS).

4 See endnote 1.

5 See endnote 1.