New insights into movers
Moving one's place of dwelling is an event that has directly involved over a quarter of the Victorian population in the three years to October 1999. From a population of 3,520,900 aged 18 years and over, 1,014,700 (29%) moved at least once in that period. This is one of the main findings in Population Mobility, Victoria (Cat. No. 3237.2) released on 24 March 2000.
Some of the most interesting data from this new Victorian survey concerns the reasons for moving. Housing is the main reason offered by 46% (424,700) of movers within Victoria, with the buying or building of new homes or the acquisition of different sized homes (bigger or smaller) being the strongest components. Life cycle reasons (eg. moving with family, becoming independent, moving in and out of relationships) were given by 20% of movers within Victoria. Employment was the most notable difference between Melbourne and country Victoria in respect of the main reason for moving (9% for Melbourne and 18% for Balance of Victoria). For movers from interstate and overseas, 45% (42,400) cited employment as the main reason for moving, followed by accessibility reasons (35% or 33,600) which includes education, being close to family and friends and lifestyle responses.
The survey estimates that of the more than a million Victorian movers, 34% moved less than five kilometres and another 35% moved between five and twenty kilometres. Only 11% said they had moved fifty kilometres or more within Victoria.
ABS is assessing interest Australia-wide for further survey work around the theme of population mobility. This will include reviewing the use of available population mobility data and whether there is need and user support for additional survey work in this field. If you would like to be involved in the consultation, please contact Jessica Enders (j.enders@abs.gov.au or 03 9615 7365).
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