Home from Home? Locational Choices of International “Creative Class” Workers

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the international migration dynamics of the highly skilled “creative class”. To date, little research has been undertaken to provide an in-depth understanding of the underlying reasons behind the movements of these workers. By providing a micro-level, qualitative analysis of the motivations, experiences and migration trajectories of a sub-group of these workers, namely “creative Bohemians”, this paper offers a perspective that is currently lacking in the literature. These individuals are considered to be particularly attracted by diverse and open urban milieus, as well as being instrumental in creating the type of urban environment that attracts other members of the “creative class”. Birmingham, UK, was chosen as an example of a European city emulating “creative city” policies and being potentially well-placed to attract international talent due to its culturally diverse population and reputation for “tolerance”. Findings call for a more nuanced understanding of the factors associated with both the attraction and retention of international talent, as it is clear that migration decisions depend on factors other than simply “quality of place” or diversity and tolerance. Policies focusing on subjective concepts of place attractiveness are thus unlikely to be successful. Instead, cities need carefully targeted policies that address their particular socio-economic and physical realities.

Acknowledgements

This research forms part of a larger EU project—ACRE (Accommodating Creative Knowledge: Competitiveness of European Metropolitan Regions within the Enlarged Union). The author gratefully acknowledges discussions with various ACRE researchers throughout the project. The author would also like to thank Prof. Calvin Taylor, for helpful comments on a draft version of the paper and the insightful comments of the anonymous reviewer.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Florida and Tinagli (2004) focussed their European analysis at the national level.

2. ONS (2011b). Adapted from Table EE1.

3. Accurately assessing that the size of the creative industries is notoriously difficult, and the data and statistical issues well documented (see UIS, 2009).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Sixth Framework Programme of the EU [grant number 028270].