Motivations and aspirations for settling down in the Nordics
Where do young adults wish to settle down and why?
The aim of the study is to understand the migration motives and drivers of young people in the Nordic countries, focusing on the 25-39 year olds, which we call the household-forming ages.
We want to understand people's migration histories and aspirations to better understand future migration patterns and how regions and municipalities can adapt their policies accordingly. Understanding the factors that influence people's willingness to move or stay put can help policy makers identify the strengths and weaknesses of different communities, as well as understand young adults' priorities when choosing where to settle. Your responses will provide us with invaluable information on how regions can anticipate, manage and adapt to the current challenges of population decline and labour shortages.
The survey is divided into three parts:
a) Migration history: where you grew up and whether you have moved between municipalities, regions or countries in the past.
b) Migration motivations: here we are interested in the reasons behind the move(s) outside your home municipality (if you have ever moved between municipalities).
c) Migration aspirations: We would like to know more about your future plans and wishes in terms of where you would like to settle and why.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Background information
To which gender identity do you most identify?
Male
Female
Non-binary
I prefer not to answer
How old are you?
________
I prefer not to answer
What is the most fitting description of your marital or social status?
Single
In a cohabiting partnership or marriage
In partnership or marriage without cohabitation
Divorced
Widowed
I prefer not to answer
Are you an active caregiver to any children or in other capacity (e.g. taking care of family members)?
No
Yes, to one child
Yes, to two children
Yes, to three or more children
Yes, to other people
I prefer not to answer
What is your highest degree of education?
List of education system levels according to each Nordic country
Where did you obtain your highest education or vocational training?
Not applicable (I have not received vocational or higher education)
In the same municipality where I grew up
In a major city in my region
In a major city outside my region
In the capital city
In a smaller town or village near a larger city
In the countryside
Remotely / hybrid
Abroad in the Nordic countries
Abroad outside the Nordic region
(When you chose the place where you want/wanted to study, what were your priorities?)
It was the closest place to study from my place of origin
It offered hybrid/online learning opportunities
It was possible for me to find affordable and suitable accommodation there
I have friends/networks nearby or in the locality
The location had a good reputation for youth/student life
The location had a good reputation for family life
The place had good transport connections
It was the only place that offered the education I wanted
Other information
What is the highest level of education of one or both of your parents? Select one or two options.
List of education system levels according to each Nordic country
What is your current employment status? Choose what applies best.
I am employed
I am unemployed
I am self-employed or a freelancer
I am a student
I am unable to work
I prefer not to answer
(What is your occupation?)
I am:
Are you building or wishing to build a career in one of the following sectors?
List of fields according to international NACE codes
Which is your country of birth?
Finland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Iceland
A self-governing territory (Åland, Faroe islands, Greenland)
Other country in EU
Other country outside of EU
I prefer not to answer
Where were your parents born? Choose one or two options.
One or both in same country as I was
One or both in a different Nordic country
One or both in other country in EU
One or both in other country outside of EU
I don‘t know
What is your monthly income before tax? Answer in numbers.
_______________________
What is the monthly income of the whole household?
________________________
What is your current housing situation? Choose what applies best to your situation.
I own/co-own my own apartment/house
I rent an apartment/house
I sublet a room/apartment/house
I live with my parents/family
I lived in a shared household
I live in student housing
I prefer not to say
Migration History
These questions are about where you are from and how you have (or have not) moved in your life. By ‚place of origin‘, we refer to a place you first think about as an answer to the question „where did you grow up?“
Where is your place of origin? Tell us the country, name of municipality and/or town/village that you are from.
How would you describe your place of origin? Choose all options that apply.
Family-friendly
Not suitable for families
Close to nature
Urban
Fun and interesting
Boring and uninteresting
Easy to find new friends in
Difficult to find new friends in
Socially diverse
Socially uniform
A place that I have a strong personal bond with
A place that I feel detached to
Which statement(s) describe your moving history the best?
I have not moved out of my place of origin
I have moved back or am going to move back after previously leaving my place of origin
I have moved out of my place of origin
(Would you ever move back to your place of origin?)
Yes
Maybe
No
How important were job prospects as a reason for you to move out or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was finding education as a reason for you to move out or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was a romantic relationship as a reason for you to move out or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
(How important was a strong sense of community as a reason for you to stay in your place of origin?) 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
(How important was seeking a stronger social network as a reason for you to move out of your place of origin?) 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was seeking for a more urban lifestyle as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was lack of affordable or suitable housing where you lived as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was seeking more culture, entertainment, hobby opportunities as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was seeking a more family-friendly or safer area as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was the wish for better public services (health care, daycare, schooling, social services) as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was the wish for better access to private services (shops, gas stations, restaurants etc.) as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was the wish for better transport connections as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
How important was the wish to get closer to nature as a reason for you to move out of or stay in your place of origin? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
(How important were negative feelings towards your place of origin as a reason for you to move out of your place of origin?) 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
(How important was a strong personal bond as a reason for you to stay in your place of origin?) 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
Was there another important reason for your decision to move out or stay in your place of origin?
Where do you live now?
What do you appreciate most about where you live now? Choose all that apply.
Its family-friendliness
Its closeness to nature
Its urban character
Its fun and interesting aspects
Its safety
That it is easy to make new friends here
That I knew many people from here already before moving in
That it is socially diverse with a lot of people from different backgrounds
That it is socially uniform
That I have a strong personal bond with the place
(When did you last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km?)
Less than a year ago
1-2 years ago
3-5 years ago
Over five years ago
(How important was finding education as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km) 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
(How important were job prospects as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km?) 1: not important, 10: very important (scale)
(How important was a romantic relationship as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was seeking a stronger social network as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was seeking a more urban lifestyle as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was finding more affordable or suitable housing as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was culture, leisure or hobby alternatives as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was seeking better access to public services as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was seeking better access to private services as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was seeking better transport connections as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was seeking a more safe or family-friendly area as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was getting closer to nature as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important was a strong personal bond as a reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(Was there another reason for your last move between municipalities or a distance of over 50 km?)
Migration Aspirations
The next questions regard your plans for moving places in the future and your ideal place to settle down for a longer time.
Where would you like to live for the majority of your adult life?
Where I live now
Where I grew up or nearby area
Elsewhere
I don‘t know or in several places
(Where would you like to live the majority of your adult life? Place a pin on the map.)
[Map]
(Instead of using the map, you can also write the name of the region/place where you would like to live for the majority of your adult life:)
(How important is seeking education as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important are job prospects as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is a romantic relationship as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking a stronger social network as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking a more urban lifestyle as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking a more affordable or suitable housing as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking better access to culture, leisure, or hobby opportunities as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking better public services as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking better private services as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking better transport connections as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is getting closer to nature as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is seeking a more family-friendly or safer environment as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(How important is a strong personal bond as a reason to wish to move to this place where you would like to settle in? 1: not important, 10: very important (scale))
(Is there another reason why you would like to move to this place to settle in?)
(Is there something preventing you from moving there? If yes, what? Choose 1-3 most suitable options.)
Difficulty to find housing there
Difficulty to find employment / career development opportunities there
Difficulty to find education opportunities there
Difficulty to find childcare aid / schooling there
The place does not have good public services
The area does not have good everyday services
The area is not family-friendly
The place does not have good transport connections
Family or other social networks in current place of residence
My current job does not allow remote working
I don‘t have the financial means to move
Other
What are your plans considering moving in the near future? Mark the option that describes your situation the best
I have no plans to move
I am considering to move within the next three years
I am certain to move within the next three years
I am considering to move within the next ten years
I am certain to move within the next ten years
Would you move to a rural area (over 1 hour travel time from a regional center), IF...
You got offered a job
Your partner got offered a job
The salary was better
The job had better benefits
My partner/family could easily follow me
There was good and affordable housing options there
There were good public services
There were good transport connections
There were good (private) everyday services
I already had friends/social networks in the area
The rural area was nearby where I grew up in
The rural area was similar as where I grew up in
I would not
Would you consider moving to another Nordic country?
Yes
No
Maybe
I don‘t know
(Which Nordic autonomous area or country would you consider moving in? Choose all relevant)
Denmark
Finland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Greenland
Faroe Islands
Åland
Has the increased possibility to work remote made you consider moving to a place further away from your current place of work?
Yes
Maybe in the future
No
I cannot work remotely
Thank you for attending! Your answers are very valuable to us.