Knowledge economy and migrant knowledge workers in the global city: a case study of Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

The global city literature is largely economic-centric and pays insufficient attention to the important issue of migration. Underpinned by a theoretical cross-fertilization of the global city and the knowledge city theses, this study investigates migrant knowledge workers (MKWs) in Melbourne, which has multiple identities as a global city, a knowledge city and a migration city. By doing so, this study aims to use migration as an alternative indicator of a global city and unpack the association between MKWs and the formation of a global knowledge city. It analyses Melbourne’s knowledge economy, and socio-economic attributes and spatial patterns of MKWs compared with other demographic groups. The results show that Melbourne has a higher concentration and stronger growth of knowledge intensive industries than Australia’s national average, for which MKWs provide the substantial workforce. Further, the MKWs demonstrate a different set of socio-economic attributes and settlement patterns that have profound impacts on local communities. This paper concludes with a discussion linking the global city, the knowledge city and migration theories through the nexus of MKWs, to provide a better understanding of associated urban transformations and inform policy implications for a contemporary global knowledge city.