POPULATION MOVEMENT RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF RURAL COMMUNES OF THE ŁÓDŹ VOIVODSHIP

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify directions of functional and spatial connections based on employment-related population movement. Two basic accessibility variables were adopted as the basis for analysis, namely distance and travel time. The spatial scope of the study was limited to selected rural communes of the Łódź voivodship, which were characterised by a low rate of population movement to work, illustrating the ratio of the number of people coming to a given commune to work, to the number of people leaving the given commune to work in other territorial units. The indicator was calculated based on data from the Central Statistical Office regarding population movement. Distance and travel time were also analysed based on the statistical data of the Central Statistical Office in the scope of estimated distance and travel time from the commune being the place of residence to the commune of the workplace. Analysis showed that both the distance and time of commuting to work practically does not deviate from accepted values. In some cases, rural residents are willing to travel longer distances, and thus spend more time commuting to work. Decisions about daily commuting to work to the city are linked to the possibilities of taking up employment, although a short distance is not a sufficient and only criterion here. Underdeveloped cities are not thereby less attractive in terms of employment, however the interest of potential employees in them is much weaker than in the case of cities allowing for a proper matching of labour demand and supply.

Keywords

• local government
• population movement
• employment
• rural development