Why do people with degrees move for jobs more than people without them?

Question

I have no statistically data to back this up - but it just seems people with a college degree look in many geographic areas for a job whereas people with just a high school degree usually stay in the same town.

If a factory goes under why don't those blue collar people move. For example, if my job left town I would look for jobs all over the country, not just try and find one in my same town - and I too own a house.

Is it a mentality, myth, or am I just crazy?

Answer 1

Risk / Benefit analysis.  If you have a HS diploma, you are less likely to move for a job because (just for example) the jobs you are going for are around $30k per year which are not worth the moving expense (to you or the employer) and usually you are more expendible (easily replaced).

A peson with say, a MBA would be looking at $60k+ jobs (for example) which may be worth the cost of relocation to both the applicant and the employer.  Plus it is usually harder and more expensive to replace the type of position a person w/ a MBA is applying for.