Long-term trends in spatial mobility in Sweden: an order-specific analysis of migration of young adults

Emma Lundholm, Umeå University
Hill Kulu, University of Liverpool
Gunnar Malmberg, Umeå University

The aim of this study is to investigate spatial mobility of young adults (aged 18 to 29) in Sweden over time. By using Swedish register data we will first calculate annual age standardised migration rates for young adults over the last three decades (from 1980 to 2009). We will then disaggregate mobility rates by calculating order-specific migration rates. We will next standardise order-specific mobility rates for place of residence and for changes in other life domains of individuals (education and family) to determine how much changes in various life domains of individuals explain the change in mobility levels over time. The analysis shows that spatial mobility of young adults significantly increased in Sweden in the 1990s and that increased enrolment in higher education largely accounted for elevated mobility rates.