The mobility preferences of ICT knowledge workers: Do second-ranked cities have a chance of attracting them?

Studies investigating the spatial distribution of knowledge workers focus mainly on the factors that draw them to large primary cities. Second-ranked cities have trouble attracting and retaining these workers. We investigated whether there is a difference between the mobility preferences of knowledge workers residing in second-ranked cities and those of their peers in large primary cities. We used a field survey among workers in information and communications technology (ICT) residing in two cities in Israel: Tel Aviv, the leading metropolitan area in terms of innovative products, and Beersheba, the core of the southern periphery that has made great efforts to build a cyber hub. The results show that having a social network in the region in terms of close family, friends, and interactions with other people in the area has a stronger positive influence on the mobility preferences of knowledge workers residing in second-ranked cities, compared to their colleagues from large primary cities. The results acknowledge social networks as an important factor for place-based policies aimed at attracting knowledge workers to second-ranked cities.