Who Really Moved Due to the Pandemic?

With a new understanding of and freedom from traditional workspaces, many Americans packed their bags and left dense areas throughout the pandemic. At least that’s what was in the headlines. A new study from software company Qualtrics found that a large share of those who moved during the pandemic was younger Americans with fewer responsibilities and less job security. Fast Company reports that 25% of Gen Zers surveyed said they moved during the pandemic, 16% of Millennials, 9% of Gen Z, and 6% of Baby Boomers. The survey also found 8% of urbanites fled the city during the pandemic.

The top three reasons given by those who had moved: “I want to be closer to family and friends,” “I felt ready for a change,” and “I want to be somewhere with more space.”

The Qualtrics survey gathered responses from 4,000 employed individuals across the United States, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand over two weeks in March 2021. Read more from the full survey here.

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