Survey-based Indicators of Regional Labour Markets and Interregional Migration in Norway

A rich set of regional labour market variables is utilised to explain interregional migration in Norway. In particular, regional indicators of labour market pressure are computed from survey data in which respondents are asked to evaluate local job prospects in their resident municipality and the surroundings. Mean satisfaction with local job prospects reported by respondents in a region and related survey-based indicators have a positive and significant impact on net inmigration to the region, also when controlling for traditional measures of regional labour market conditions, such as regional unemployment and wage differentials. Our results suggest that surveys may provide useful information about regional labour markets.