(a) What is mobility of labour? (b) What factors serve as obstacles to occupational mobility of labour?

Answer Details

a. Mobility of labour. Mobility of labour is the ease or freedom with which workers can move from one job or occupation to another (occupational mobility) or from one geographical location to another (geographical mobility).

b. Obstacles to occupational mobility of labour.

• Lack of required skill or training: a worker cannot move into a job that demands qualifications he does not have.
• Cost of training: the money and time needed to acquire a new skill may be beyond the worker's reach.
• Natural ability or talent: some occupations need special aptitudes (for example, music or surgery) that not everyone possesses.
• Ignorance of job opportunities: workers may not know that vacancies exist in other occupations.
• Professional and trade-union barriers: entry requirements, licences or union rules restrict movement into certain jobs.
• Discrimination: on grounds of sex, tribe, age or religion, some workers are denied certain jobs.
• Cost of tools and equipment: some occupations require expensive equipment the worker cannot afford.