Same, Same, but Different: Geographical Labor Mobility of Older Workers in Sweden

Research on migration in later life has predominantly focussed on retirement, amenities, and family-related relocation, while determinants of work-related migration has received comparatively little attention. Yet, rising labor force participation among older individuals makes understanding their work-related mobility increasingly important. Using longitudinal Swedish register data covering 1993–2019, this study examines interregional work-related migration patterns among workers aged 60–74 and investigates which regional characteristics are associated with higher attraction and retention of older workers. The results show that both employment and work-related migration among older adults increased substantially during the study period, with the number of older workers changing region of employment doubling between 1993 and 2019. Moreover, the geography of older worker flows became increasingly similar to that of younger workers, as older workers generally relocated to and from the same regions as workers in younger age groups. At the same time, important differences remain. Older workers appear less responsive to aggregate labor market conditions and regional wage levels. Instead, regional age structure plays a stronger role, with regions characterized by older populations attracting more older workers. The findings highlight the need for labor mobility frameworks and regional labor market policies that explicitly account for late-career mobility and workforce aging.