LABOR MOBILITY IN THE AUSTRALIAN REGIONS

A preliminary analysis of ABS labour mobility surveys for 1989 and 199 2 reveals that job mobility with the Australian States occurs more qui ckly in the boom conditions of 1989 compared with the recession of 199 2. And it is generally more rapid in the dynamic regional economies, i n particular Queensland, WA and NSW. Male obility in each State is cor related with tenure and industry unemployment rates at different point s of the cycle. The positive association of unemployment and mobility supports the relevance of Lilien's structural adjustment of male mobil ity in the State economies. Female labour turnover is not responsive t o unemployment and depends less often on tenure. Earnings play a limit ed role in explaining labour mobility generally.