Previous studies have largely treated first- and second-generation baby boomers as a single cohort and have explained their mobility primarily through non-economic factors such as return migration or residential amenities. From an economic perspective...
Previous studies have largely treated first- and second-generation baby boomers as a single cohort and have explained their mobility primarily through non-economic factors such as return migration or residential amenities. From an economic perspective, migration to population-decline areas has been interpreted either as a response to economic pressure or as being constrained by economic limitations; however, empirical verification of this debate remains limited. More recently, job-related migration to population-decline areas among baby boomers has been observed, suggesting that such mobility may reflect selective economic opportunities rather than purely residential adjustment.
Against this background, this study examines whether pre-migration employment and economic characteristics are associated with migration to population-decline areas among first- and second-generation baby boomers aged 52–58 who previously resided in non–population-decline areas, and whether these relationships differ by generation. Individuals’ migration histories are reconstructed to identify the first occurrence of migration to a population-decline area, thereby establishing an analytical framework that clearly distinguishes pre-migration economic conditions from migration outcomes. To isolate generational effects within the same life stage, the analysis is restricted to the overlapping age range of 52–58 for both generations, controlling for age effects, while residual period effects are addressed by incorporating household loan interest rates to mitigate age–period–cohort (APC) multicollinearity.
The results indicate that migration to population-decline areas is accompanied by reductions in income and housing space, suggesting that such mobility represents selective migration under constrained economic conditions. When pre-migration employment characteristics are considered, migration to population-decline areas is distinct from movements by individuals without income; however, within the income-earning population, higher income levels are associated with lower migration probabilities. This pattern implies that migration to population-decline areas does not constitute income-preserving mobility, but rather occurs under limited economic circumstances. Homeownership suppresses migration probabilities, whereas holding a regular employment position increases the likelihood of migration.
From a generational perspective, second-generation baby boomers exhibit a higher overall probability of migration, but this generational effect does not operate uniformly across employment conditions. Migration among second-generation baby boomers is suppressed under unemployment, while it is reinforced when employment is maintained—such as among regular employees or the self-employed—indicating a conditional and selective mobility pattern. Interaction analyses further reveal that this pattern is strengthened in service-oriented sectors, including public administration and health and social services, but inhibited in physically production-based industries such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
Although the proportion of unemployed individuals increases after migration, the persistence of a polarized firm-size structure—characterized by relatively high shares of both micro-enterprises and large firms—suggests that migration to population-decline areas reflects employment reallocation rather than labor market exit. Taken together, these findings indicate that baby boomers’ migration to population-decline areas should not be understood as return migration or amenity-driven relocation, but rather as a selective migration process shaped by constrained economic conditions and generationally differentiated employment characteristics.