Beyond the Jobs versus Amenities Debate: Understanding the Migration of Educated Workers and Implications for Planning

摘要

A skilled workforce is essential to regional growth and competitiveness, yet what is needed to attract and retain a talent base is a matter of long-standing debate. Through a qualitative longitudinal study of educated professionals who moved or returned to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, we identify the particular aspects of "jobs" and "amenities" respondents valued, highlight the complex and relational nature of the migration process, and examine how locational priorities shift as life circumstances change. Understanding the place-specific and institutional qualities that affect mobility and how individuals negotiate the migration process are essential to attract and retain skilled workers.