Movers from the city in the first year of Covid

Abstract

Cities across the world have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and out-migration from many cities was particularly high in 2020. Some movers went abroad; others moved to other parts of the same country. Using Oslo, Norway, as a case, this study examines the characteristics of those who moved away from the city in 2020, such as occupation, age and whether they were born there. Based on these findings, I discuss the likelihood of the leavers returning when the pandemic is over. The results show that those moving away from Oslo in 2020 were somewhat older compared to those who moved away between 2016 and 2019. To a greater extent than in the preceding years, movers in 2020 had jobs where teleworking could be possible and were not born in Oslo. This may indicate that a substantial share of those who moved away from Oslo in 2020 will not move back to the city after the pandemic if teleworking is still possible. For those who emigrated to another country, no teleworking effect was found.