“We're in this all together”: community impacts of long-distance labour commuting

Abstract

Labour and economic development patterns in rural regions have shifted substantially as a by-product of both economic and political restructuring. An important manifestation of this restructuring has been the growth of long distance labour commuting (LDLC) associated with increased labour flexibility and worker/family preference. In this article, we draw upon research in Mackenzie, British Columbia (BC), Canada, to explore the broader impacts of LDLC on a home community from a series of different perspectives. Our findings focus on two core themes: (1) family and community dynamics; and (2) the capacity of community organizations. Numerous negative outcomes associated with LDLC were found, including family stress and volunteer burnout. Our research also revealed a variety of positive dimensions associated with LDLC, including the ability to continue to call Mackenzie home and a strengthened sense of community. The experience in Mackenzie offers important themes for research in other communities and places experiencing LDLC.

Keywords:

• labour
• commuting
• rural
• community
• development

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their helpful insights and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We would also like to acknowledge funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 430-2011-0475 and 895-2011-1019]; the Canada Research Chair Program [grant number 950-203491], [grant number 950-222604]. Finally, thank you to the many individuals in Mackenzie who shared their knowledge and experiences with us for this research.