Factors Influencing Rural Migration Decisions in Scotland: An Analysis of the Evidence
This study coordinates evidence of the factors influencing rural migration decisions in Scotland, and ascertains the implications for policy. It focuses on age/life-stage related factors.
9 CONCLUSION
9.1 The findings of this review reveal a great deal of individual diversity in the motivations given for moving into and out of rural areas. Often one person's motivation for leaving a rural area may be another's motivation for moving in, particularly for more subjective factors such as social relationships, quality of life and value for money. Moreover, the literature suggests a good deal of regional variability in the factors that can influence rural migration decisions, particularly between accessible and remote rural areas. For example, it suggests that rapidly ageing populations require a more urgent policy response in remote rural areas than in their more accessible counterparts. This variability makes it difficult to identify the key overall drivers for inward and outward migration in rural Scotland, but it does highlight the importance of appreciating individual and regional variations when developing policies to address rural migration.
9.2 Differences between accessible and remote rural areas are suggested throughout the literature, particularly by the fact that many studies have chosen to focus on remote rural areas when exploring the issues associated with rural migration in Scotland. More specifically, the literature suggests that issues such as the shortage of rural jobs, poor access to local services, and inadequate public transport provision could be more critical in remote rural areas than in many of their accessible counterparts. More detail on the differences between accessible and remote rural areas can be found in the Rural Scotland Key Facts publication 24. This is a Scottish Government statistical publication, published annually since 2004, with the purpose of summarising a range of key facts relating to rural Scotland, and comparing these with the rest of Scotland. It is a compilation of information from different sources, and the data are organised in a way that distinguishes between accessible and remote rural areas, making it particularly relevant here.
9.3 Despite this regional and individual variability in the factors influencing rural migration, however, the literature does highlight some recurring considerations that are likely to have a more uniform influence. These include the availability of jobs and of high quality employment (in terms of pay, training, career progression etc.), which have both been highlighted as particularly prominent considerations. The availability of affordable housing, access to key services, and quality of life issues are also important considerations. For specific demographic groups such as young people, families and older people, the literature points to additional drivers such as the availability of good quality higher education, childcare services, and of sheltered/supported accommodation.
9.4 An analysis of the factors influencing rural migration decisions suggests that it could be useful for policy makers to think in terms of DEFRA's 4 Es approach to behaviour change. This approach could help give a comprehensive picture of the factors influencing rural migration decision making. Importantly, applying the 4 Es approach would also allow a distinction to be made between factors that encourage individuals to migrate in the first place, and those that enable such migration to take place. This distinction could be useful, as the factors identified by this review suggest that individuals' motivations can indeed be divided into those that act as catalysts encouraging them to migrate, and those that enable this migration.
9.5 An initial analysis of the literature suggests that, for in-migration to rural areas, some of the encouragers and their associated enablers could be as follows:
Table 3 Encouragers and Enablers influencing individuals' decisions to move into rural areas
Encouragers |
Enablers |
|---|---|
Employment |
Awareness of local job opportunities High quality of employment (in terms of training, promotion, pay etc). Access to jobs (the availability of public transport, car journey times, flexible working options etc). Affordable housing within commutable distance from employment. Awareness of affordable housing options. Local cost of living relative to earning power. |
Quality of life considerations |
Job availability. Awareness of local job opportunities. An accurate perception of the quality of life available in rural areas. Affordable housing. Awareness of affordable housing options. Local cost of living relative to earning power. Quality and accessibility of the local environment. Access to outdoor activities and other leisure activities. Perceived strong sense of community in the local area. Social/family connections. |
Family considerations (the assumption that rural areas offer the best environment for bringing up children) |
Affordable housing. Awareness of affordable housing options. The availability of high quality childcare, nursery and school provision, and appropriate access to it. Awareness of the services and facilities available locally. Local family and/or social connections. Perceived strong sense of community in the local area. Access to key services such as doctors and dentists. Job availability / the ability to work remotely in current employment. Awareness of local job opporunities. Quality and accessibility of the natural environment. |
Family ties / responsibilities |
Job availability/ability to work remotely in current employment. Awareness of local job opportunities. Affordable housing. Awareness of affordable housing options. |
Opportunities available for retirees to enjoy a change of lifestyle |
Affordable housing. Awareness of affordable housing options. Quality and accessibility of local medical services. Availability of appropriate housing (sheltered/supported accommodation etc), and awareness of what is available. Public transport connections. Quality of the natural environment. Opportunities to get involved in local community activities. Good quality and appropriate shops, services and leisure facilities available locally. |
9.6 In terms of out-migration, encouragers and enablers can also be indentified from this review. Nevertheless, it must be noted that even if policy does address all these factors, it is not likely to stem out-migration entirely as some groups (for example, young people) seem particularly determined to leave, no matter how good their quality of life in a rural areas becomes. Policy teams should also carefully consider whether they want to stem out-migration from rural areas, given the potential benefits that this can bring in terms of helping residents to acquire new skills and experiences.
9.7 The literature reviewed here suggests that some of the encouragers and associated enablers for out-migration from rural areas could include the following:
Table 4 Factors acting as Encouragers and Enablers for migration out of rural areas
Encouragers |
Enablers |
|---|---|
Desire to pursue higher education opportunities available elsewhere |
Limited higher education opportunities available locally. Limited extra curricular opportunities available locally. Limited leisure facilities and/or opportunities to socialise locally for those in higher education. Limited opportunities for work experience and/or part time jobs available locally. Peer/family pressure to move elsewhere for higher education. Ambitions to have the best higher education available. Desire for more autonomy/personal freedom. Desire for adventure and new life experiences. Dissatisfaction with the choice of lifestyle opportunities available locally. |
Desire for more autonomy / personal freedom |
Dissatisfaction with the nature and priorities of the local community. Feeling under valued/ignored by the local community. Peer/family pressure. Dissatisfaction with the choice of lifestyle opportunities available locally. Dissatisfaction with local affordable housing options. Dissatisfaction with the local cost of living compared to the average earning power of young people in rural areas. |
Desire to pursue job opportunities available elsewhere |
Attraction of the range, nature and quality of employment available elsewhere, compared to that available locally. Attraction of the accessibility of jobs available elsewhere compared to those available locally (in terms of public transport connections, car journey times etc). Attraction of the relatively low cost of living relative to earning power available elsewhere, compared to locally. Social/family pressure. The attraction of professional contacts and networks available elsewhere, compared to locally. |
Desire to experience an urban lifestyle |
Dissatisfaction with the choice of lifestyle opportunities available locally. An accurate perception of the quality of life available in urban areas. Dissatisfaction with the number and range of leisure facilities and shops available locally (especially those suitable for young people). Sense of adventure and a desire for more personal autonomy. Dissatisfaction with the cost of living in rural areas. Peer pressure to try pursuing an urban lifestyle. |
9.8 The above tables illustrate the highly qualitative nature of this review, and the subjectivity of the factors identified as influencing rural migration decisions. As a result, the main influencing factors vary considerably between different individuals, and also between different rural areas. We do not yet have a means of comparing the main motivations for different geographical areas, nor for different demographic groups. Consequently, it could be useful to have a large scale, statistically robust survey of rural migration across Scotland, capable of giving a broader picture of population movements, and identifying and comparing the key factors influencing rural migration decisions.
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