Research Report Footloose or Stuck in Place? Firm Mobility across Six Metropolitan Areas
Brett Theodos, Aravind Boddupalli, Megan Randall
Display Date
File
File
Download Report
(448.99 KB)

Firm migration is seen as a barometer of business climate and economic health. State and local governments feel the pressure to retain and attract jobs, often by competing using economic development packages. To better understand local employment changes, and the prevalence of job migration, we conducted a study of six metropolitan areas using establishment-level information from National Establishment Time Series (NETS) data for a twenty-year study period through 2012. Migration of establishments constitutes a fairly minimal share of total job gain or loss, suggesting that public resources may be better spent on larger contributors to local employment gains.

Research and Evidence Tax and Income Supports Work, Education, and Labor Housing and Communities Research to Action
Expertise Community and Economic Development Upward Mobility and Inequality Thriving Cities and Neighborhoods Wealth and Financial Well-Being Taxes and the Economy Workforce Development Labor Markets
Tags Employment and income data Labor force Mobility State and local finance