Intragenerational Social Mobility and Migration Among Malaysian Professionals During the Post-Pandemic Era

Abstract

The issue of intragenerational social mobility among Malaysian professionals is a critical aspect of social dynamics, reflecting the determinants and opportunities individuals face in navigating upward or downward trajectories within the professional sphere. This paper discusses the issue of migration and intragenerational social mobility among Malaysian professionals during the post-pandemic era. The main objective of this study is to analyse the patterns of migration and its factors as experienced by Malaysian professionals in the post-pandemic era. This study also examined the patterns of intragenerational social mobility experienced by Malaysian professionals due to the migration patterns in the said period. This study used qualitative methods using in-depth email interviews with ten Malaysian professionals who experienced migration from December 2019 until December 2022. The email interview lasted three weeks, from December 2022 to January 2023. The study has found that informants experienced four types of migration patterns, i.e., urban-urban, urban-rural, rural-urban, and rural-rural movements. Economic opportunity, social networks, cost of living, COVID-19, currency rate, education, and facilities influence these patterns. The findings further demonstrate that informants experienced horizontal and vertical upward intragenerational social mobility patterns due to migration activity during the post-pandemic period. Since this study delves into the factors influencing intragenerational mobility, it aims to illuminate the complexities of social advancement among Malaysian professionals, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of the said phenomenon in the Malaysian context. This is vital to fill the research gaps, provide new insights into the sociological body of knowledge, and contribute new inputs for certain government agencies and researchers in the field. Keywords: factors of migration, Malaysian professionals, migration patterns, patterns of social mobility, social mobility