Black Family Migration and Wives' Employment

Abstract

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Young and Mature Women this paper isolates determinants of black family migration in the US incorporates variables reflection the wifes employment experience into that model and sorts out patterns of racial differences in the migration decision making process. The minority group status perspective suggests a main effect of race; membership in a minority group influences ones propensity to migrate by increasing reluctance to leave old networks. In 1968 5159 women aged 14 to 24 and 1459 of which were black were interviewed yearly; 5083 women aged 30 to 44 in 1967 1390 of which were black were also interviewed yearly for almost 10 years. Results show that: 1) wives under 30 with highly educated husbands are more likely to move; 2) wives in their 30s and 40s with husbands who earn more and are older are less likely to move while those with more highly educated husbands are more likely to do so; 3) young professional black women move more frequently than other blacks; and 4) in general if a wife is employed the stability of that employment may deter family migration. Racial differences between whites and blacks show that: 1) for young women the positive impact of professional job category is significant for blacks only 2) black wives employment does not play a major role in deterring migration while employed white wives are less likely than others to move long distances and 3) fewer moves for blacks involve husband transfers than moves for whites. Overall determinants of black family migration are roughly similar to those of whites; employment stability is a key factor in location decisions for blacks. Rates for black migration are about half those of whites; therefore minority group status in some manner decreases blacks willingness to leave a current residence.