Age and domestic migration effects on workers’ commuting distance

Abstract

Do older workers, including those that work beyond age 65, have different commuting patterns than their younger counterparts? With a focus on older working adults, including those that continue to work beyond age 65, this paper examines the relationship between migration, residential location, and commute distance within Toronto’s commuter shed. The study utilizes data from the master file of the 2016 Canadian Census, allowing migrants to be disaggregated by duration of residence. Results indicate that living in rural areas and being a recent migrant are significantly associated with longer commutes. Furthermore, findings demonstrate that the commute distance of very recent migrants (those who migrated in the year immediately prior to the census) and individuals who moved to rural areas have the longest commute distances. As residential duration increases, commute distance decreases. Older workers have similar commuting behaviors as younger workers, although older workers who recently migrated have some of the longest commute distances as well.