This rise in local mobility is consistent with the easing of housing market conditions during the 1990s, but it may also be partly a product of changes in Census coding procedures. Over the past twenty years there has also been a shift in the age profile of mobility, with higher rates of movement at ages 30-50. Coupled with the ageing of the population, this means that internal migrants in the 1990s are significantly older than 20 years ago. This higher mobility is a product of more open and flexible housing and employment markets. Based on the rates of mobility in the mid 1990s, the average Australian male can expect to make 12.8 moves over his lifetime and the average female 13.6 moves.
Women make more moves than men because of their longer life expectancy.
Despite Australia's large geographic size, most people move short distances. The median distance moved in the 1990s was a little over 16 kilometres. Mobility is highest among young adults, the separated and divorced, the unemployed, those living in rental housing, professionals and people working in public administration and in the hospitality sector. Low mobility, on the other hand, is characteristic of the aged, couples with children, owner-occupiers, and managers and administrators, especially those working in agriculture.