A reversal of fortune (North vs. South): English migration patterns
One of the more unique migration patterns of recent years was the emergence of net inward migration into the North of England.
Generally, over at least the last 30 years there has been a net outflow of people from the North of England to the South in search of employment (with the exception of the early 90’s recession when net migration between the two regions was zero).
However, during the early 2000’s; with the Labour government driving public sector job growth in the north of England and a Southern house price boom making Northern house prices look relatively cheap, a net flow of people to the North emerged.
With a net inflow of people and hence wealth to the North, the gap in house prices narrowed during 2003-05. However, the net inflow of people began to slow until it reversed in 2006-07 as the Northern economy began to under-perform relative to London and the South.
With the subsequent recession and Southern dominated economic recovery, the North-South migration flow has once again returned to a strong net outflow from the North to the South as people move in search of employment.
