Identification of Factors Relating to Perceived Geographic Mobility of Displaced Workers in Illinois

107 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1984.The overall purpose of this study was to identify factors that relate to geographic mobility of displaced workers in Illinois. Displaced workers going through Illinois centers funded by the Job Training Partnership Act were studied to determine relationships between perceived mobility and factors such as demographics, awareness of labor market information, family and community ties, assistance with retraining and relocation costs, housing, and employment history.Factors identified from an extensive literature review related to geographic mobility were organized into 10 major research questions. A questionnaire was constructed to develop a mobility index and to collect information from displaced workers related to these factors. A multiple regression technique was used to ascertain relationships between the mobility index and selected factors associated with geographic mobility.A major finding of this study was that there is a relationship between demographic factors and willingness of displaced workers to relocate. Generally, younger males with higher levels of education were identified as being the most mobile. Older workers, women, and those with teenage children living at home were found to be less willing to move for employment. Displaced workers with spouses working full time are less likely to move for employment.Results of this study also indicated that community attachment and ties with family and friends were related to willingness of displaced workers to move for employment. Generally, displaced workers who live in larger communities, have moved several times in the past, and are less involved in community organizations tend to be willing to move for employment. Displaced workers owning homes were less willing to move for employment, although assistance with relocation expenses increases the willingness of displaced workers to move.Finally, displaced workers who have worked for one employer for an extended time period are likely to be less receptive to moving because of ties to that employer. Displaced workers in service-related occupations were found to be the most willing to move for employment.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD