Results of the research project

Policy report: Migration patterns and profiles of young adult leavers based on CBS Microdata

In this report, we investigate how many young adults who grew up in a rural municipality move to another municipality and whether they later return to their municipality of origin. Our findings show that there is no single type of leaver or returnee, but rather a variety of migration patterns after leaving. We develop a typology of five types of leavers and find that, on average, approximately 17% return. We also observe significant regional variations and differences in personal characteristics between the groups.

Highlights from the report:

• 67% of young adults who grew up in a rural municipality move to another municipality.
• 71% of those who leave move to an urban municipality, while 29% move to another rural municipality.
• On average, about 17% of leavers return to their municipality of origin.
• There are large regional differences. In some municipalities, there are relatively many stayers (e.g. Emmen, Hardenberg, Staphorst). In other municipalities, there are fewer stayers but relatively many returnees (e.g. Súdwest-Fryslân, De Fryske Marren, Coevorden).
• Returnees and stayers are notably often together with a partner who grew up in the same municipality.

For more information and the full report (in Dutch): https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/56e0e96de9b141ae9e9589f6314075d1