The economic crisis as a driver of cross-border labour mobility? A multi-method perspective on the case of the Central European Region

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses labour mobility from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia to Austria during the period before and after the economic crisis of 2008/2009. Building up on the TRANSLAB research project, we illustrate various facets of the interregional labour market with a mixed methods approach using regional macro-economic data, national labour market statistics, 20 expert interviews and a longitudinal survey consisting of 1345 cross-border commuters who work in Austria. Empirically we demonstrate that, due to the gradual opening of the Austrian labour market from 2004 to 2011, flows of cross-border commuters have steadily increased. Since 2009 the social composition of cross-border commuters has changed as well. We can observe a growing number of workers seeking employment in Austria who have been most vulnerable during the crisis: the young, the lowly educated and female workers. Moreover, expert interviews show a rising and economically driven demand for employment in Austria.