The impact of return migration in rural Newfoundland.

This study examines some of the social and economic consequences of return migration in rural Newfoundland especially migrants 1) new work skills 2) investments and 3) innovations introduced into the home community. 402 return migrants were interviewed in 1979. Newfoundland has distinctly modern and traditional socioeconomic sectors. The returnees were 53% male and 47% female. 88% had migrated to other places within Canada 71% to places where they already had friends or relatives. The mean age at migration was 22.5 years; the majority returned between the ages of 25 and 34. Most returns were essentially an urban to rural movement. There is some evidence that migrants improved their job skills while abroad but this does not guarantee that their skills will be used on return. Commuting from outports to urban areas was a typical adaptation made by returnees. Many migrants came home with considerable savings. Over half of the sample invested in housing 27% in living expenses and 10% in starting a business. Returnees ideas differ in degree but not in kind from those of urban dwellers; they all watch the same television programs. Returnees also tend to have pro-rural values and attitudes; hence they do not become change agents in their communities. Returnees contribute to the stability of the once beleaguered rural sector with its intimate social relations community cooperation opportunities for home production and affordable housing.