LABOUR MOBILITY

Definition : Mobility of labour refers to the ease with which workers are able to move from one
job to another within an economy and between different economies.

Types of Mobility of Labour

There are two primary types of labour mobility namely, geographic and occupational. Human
beings by
nature are prone to changes and labour is not exempted.

Geographical mobility of labour

Geographical mobility of labour addresses workers ability to work at certain physical location,
that is,when a worker moves from one place to another within a country or from one country to
another. The quest for ‘greener pasture’ or better living condition is the main reason for labour to
move from one location to another. Geographical labour mobility can also result from social
bonds we have built and security challenges in certain location.

Occupational mobility
Occupational mobility of labour is the movement of workers from one occupation to another.
Human beings as dynamic socio-economic agents who continually seek for knowledge, develop
new skills and business methods that can warrant better job offers.

Occupational labour mobility is of two sub-types : horizontal and vertical mobility

Horizontal mobility is the movement of labour from one occupation to another in the same grade
or level. This implies that a worker may have to perform similar tasks in his/her new job as they
were in his/her previous engagement. E.g From being a bank clerk to a law firm clerk.

Vertical labour mobility is the case of a worker of a lower grade and status in an occupation who
moves to another occupation in a higher grade and status. E.g a school teacher becomes a
university lecturer; an auditor becomes a bank Chief executive officer.

. DETERMINANTS OF LABOUR MOBILITY

Education and training: The level of educational attainment usually determines the extent to
which one will consider switching jobs. In other words, mobility of labour depends on the
worker’s degree, extent of training and membership of professional institutions.

Social set-up: The social ties we build determine a number of our decisions. In a society where
joint family system is preponderance, less labour mobility takes place. On the contrary, in a
society where joint family system does not exist, labour mobility is high.

Means of Transportation and Communication: The elimination of global transportation and

communication bottlenecks has made it easy for individuals to be at home away from home. For
instance, from the comfort of your home, you can call your loved ones anywhere in the world.
This has necessitated labour to consider job offers from foreign countries.

Industrialization : industrial development enables workers to move from different occupations

and places to work in factories. Industrialization also leads to urbanization thereby facilitating
rural-urban migration.

Trade : The development of business and trade leads to the spread of offices and institutions
related to them in different parts of the country and in other economies. As a result, workers
move from

Advertisement: Job advertisements and increasing development of social media, internet

connectivity, applications and tools enable workers get information about job openings anywhere
in the world. Hence, they can apply for such jobs and when better offers occur, they move from
one location or occupation to another.

OBSTACLES TO LABOUR MOBILITY

Minimum wage laws

Unemployment benefits
License requirement or registration of business
Forced unionization
Dearth of infrastructure and housing
Family ties
Discrimination based on social class
Workers lack of educational access