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Why do people move to the Northern Territory? Why do they leave? Dr Tom Wilson School for Social and Policy Research Charles Darwin University. Background High rates of migration turnover in the NT costs for business; loss of expertise; sense of history. Background - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Why do people move to the Northern Territory?Why do they leave?
Dr Tom Wilson
School for Social and Policy ResearchCharles Darwin University
Background
High rates of migration turnover in the NT costs for business; loss of expertise; sense of history
Background
Over last 20 years net migration has averaged zeroi.e. all population increase in NT has come from natural increase (births – deaths)
-8000
-6000
-4000
-2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
19
70
-71
19
75
-76
19
80
-81
19
85
-86
19
90
-91
19
95
-96
20
00
-01
20
05
-06
financial year
an
nu
al n
um
be
r
natural increase
net migration
NT Mobility Project
Need to understand the drivers of migration in order to inform policy.
ARC Linkage Project with NT Treasury and ABS, 2005-08,investigating the patterns and processes of migration to and from the NT.
Surveys Computer Assisted Telephone Interview Survey In-depth semi-structured interviews Postal survey of migration Studies of certain professional groups
Why do people move to the NT?
Reasons given for moving to the NT %
Work-related reasons 65
To be closer to, or with, family/partner/friends 20
Lifestyle 7
Return home 4
Came to visit and stayed 2
New start/sea change 2
Education 2
Weather/climate 2
Disliked previous place/escape problems 1
Natural environment 1
Types of work-related moves
Role of organisations clearly important
Type of move %
Transfer/posting with existing employer for self 22
Transfer/posting with existing employer for partner 11
New job with new employer for self 37
New job with new employer for partner 19
Business opportunity for self 5
Business opportunity for partner 2
Other 5
Transfers and postings
Many different types of organisation:
defence force law firms
Commonwealth Government administration
telecommunications companies national retailers
Australia Post the federal police major banks
television companies insurance companies
customs tourism operators airlines
real estate agencies accountancy firms
construction companies mining companies
Gender inequality: women as ‘tied movers’
For those who moved as couples/families, migration to the NT is dominated by factors associated with the male partner’s job.
14% of male participants stated that they moved for their partner’s job
25% of females reported that their own job was the main reason for moving
Relocation expenses
Did anyone assist you with relocation expenses when you moved to the Territory?Yes: 52%No: 48%
Would you have moved to the Territory without this support?
Yes: 51%No: 49%
Do higher wages/salaries attract people to the NT?
Only in a minority of cases.
The in-depth interviews showed that moving to the Territory provided the opportunity for career advancement and a greater breadth of experience.
Higher pay sometimes played a role in the decision-making process, but for many migrants to the NT higher pay was intimately bound up in a general desire for career advancement and satisfaction
Personal relationships
One fifth of moves motivated by personal relationships
We had a 3000 km long-distance relationship so I moved to be closer to my partner.
to live near relatives … to be with my son up here …
to watch my grandchildren grow up …
I came for a holiday, met a girl, and stayed ….
Our children live here. We were getting older and couldn’t count on our neighbours to take care of us.
I came to the Territory on my way around Australia and met my husband
to get away from my family…
“
”
Lifestyle
Some moved to the NT primarily for the lifestyle. The word ‘lifestyle’ can cover many things, and survey participants mentioned:
the laid back lifestyle…
… for the weather and the fishing
… to escape the big city rat race … fishing and hunting
we can always do things outdoors…
more peaceful and community minded…
a quieter place to live… it’s an easy lifestyle
I like the outdoors lifestyle – camping, fishing, motor biking and four-wheel driving…
“
”
Returning home
Some survey participants mentioned “returning home”.
Not really a reason for migration as such, but it is a reminder that many movers to the NT are returnees.
48% of participants in the CATI who moved to the NT 1997-2006 had lived in the NT before (either because they are NT-born or had moved to the NT before)
These answers demonstrate feelings of place attachment, or ‘moorings’ to the NT
Accidental movers
Came on a visit and stayed
I came to visit my cousins and only meant to stay for a short time
We were travelling around Australia and stopped to earn some money
Came for a holiday and liked it
The Territory’s where the van broke down
I was travelling round Australia, got to Alice, and thought ‘this is the place to stay’
We came for a holiday and liked it so much we never returned to Tasmania
“
”
Why do people leave the NT?
Many people move to the NT with the intention of moving out after some period
* Non-Indigenous adults who moved to the NT between 1997 and 2006
When you moved to the NT did you intend to stay for a set period of time?*
0 20 40 60 80
Yes
No
percentage
up to 1 year
1-2 years
3-5 years
over 5 years
indefinitely
other
Why do you expect to leave the NT?*
* Non-Indigenous adults who moved to the NT between 1997 and 2006 stating they intended to stay for less than 10 years
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
work reasons
to be nearer family
weather/climate
education
time for a change
cost of living in NT
isolation/remoteness
antisocial behaviour
live near coast
Indigenous issues
housing
percentage
Reasons for leaving the NT: work-related
Dissatisfaction with opportunities in NT public service: “I felt that the NT public service was not interested in developing people of my age”
Reluctant move south for husband’s career
Unpleasant working environment at one particular hospitality workplace
Unfulfilling work in medical field: “they were doing practices that were out of the 1970s”
Reasons for leaving the NT: family-related
“I got pregnant and wanted to make sure that my baby grew up with my sister and her family near us, so that’s when I decided to move”
“I wanted the kids to know their cousins and aunties so we moved for family reasons”
“Both of us are lucky to have our parents alive down south, but they’re in their 80s. There was a strong pull to be back closer to them”
Reasons for leaving the NT: climate
“Too bloody hot”
“Don’t like the cyclone season”
“I want to go somewhere where it gets cold”
Retiree wanted to do lots of gardening in retirement. “The build-up was getting to me. October, November, December was just so bloody uncomfortable”
“Had enough of the heat”
Could intending leavers be persuaded to change their minds?
* Non-Indigenous adults stating they intended to leave within 10 years
Is there anything that might encourage you to live in the NT permanently?*
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Yes No Maybe Don't know
pe
rce
nta
ge
What might encourage you to stay permanently?*
* Non-Indigenous adults stating they intended to leave within 10 years who answered ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ to the question about something persuading them to stay
0 10 20 30 40 50
If pay/work was better
If better education
If lower cost of living
Family responsibilities
If family was in NT
If travel was cheaper
If there was less crime
If housing was cheaper
If found partner
If better Indig. situation
If better shopping
If more entertainment/arts
If climate was milder
percentage
Would stay if work was better
“Income for teachers is higher here but it’s going backwards because of the cost of living”
“a better job opportunity or a promotion”
“if the perks and allowances were reinstated”
“I would stay if I got an increase in salary”
“if I got a little more respect from my employer”
“if I could get more work in Darwin I would definitely think about staying”
Would stay if more/better education
“If the schooling was up to scratch”
“If CDU had better social science I might stay”
“If I could complete my studies here”
“being able to access better education opportunities”
“better standard of education for the kids”
Migration is complex
It is never due to just one “factor”.
Individual and family move/stay decisions are made within a wider context that encompasses Labour market Decisions of companies/organisations Housing market Personal networks Needs of other family membersetc.
Economic factors predominate in the NT
The size, structure & operation of the NT economy is key to understanding migration to and from the Territory. Small economy Types of industry Employment practices of major employers (e.g. fixed term contracts, postings, etc.)
Even for people who are motivated to move for non-economic reasons, the availability of employment is often a facilitating factor.
Concluding comments
NT Mobility Project is moving towards a better understanding of migration to & from the NT
Also helpful to understand, in the context of so much mobility, why some people reside in the NT long-term
Can migration turnover be reduced through policy intervention? Possibly slightly. Maybe better to:• accept high migration turnover but manage it better• focus on increasing the size of the NT economy • maintain high fertility rates
What is the likely population of the Territory in 20 years’ time?
The future population of the NT, 2006-31
Projection assumptions – status quo scenario
Indigenous Non-Indigenous
TFR 2.7 2.0
Life expectancy 69.8 (m) 76.9 (f) 83.7 (m) 87.3 (f)
Net interstate mig -100 p.a. -400 p.a.
Net overseas mig 0 660 p.a.
The future population of the NT
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
20
06
20
11
20
16
20
21
20
26
20
31
20
36
po
pu
latio
n
Total
Non-Indigenous
Indigenous
Growth in the NT Indigenous population
10,000 5,000 0 5,000 10,000
0-45-9
10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-84
85+
Ag
e g
rou
p
males females
2006
2026
Proportional age structure change in the NT Indigenous population, 2006-26
0 50 100 150 200
0-45-9
10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-84
85+
Ag
e g
rou
p
% increase 2006-2026
Growth in the NT non-Indigenous population
10,000 5,000 0 5,000 10,000
0-45-9
10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-84
85+
Ag
e g
rou
p
males females
2006
2026
Proportional age structure change in the NT non-Indigenous population, 2006-26
0 100 200 300
0-45-9
10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-84
85+
Ag
e g
rou
p
% increase 2006-2026
Concluding comments
Under a status quo scenario• considerable population growth• much ageing
But projections are very uncertain for the NT- much depends on economic growth & interstate competition for workers- fertility could fall- overseas migration could drop
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