Situation
Like many other local communities, Bornholm faces the challenge of retaining and attracting residents. The island’s distinctive geography and infrastructure create both unique opportunities and barriers for settlement. For a number of years, Bornholm has successfully focused on increasing in-migration to the island and has had positive net migration in recent years. At the same time, there is a growing awareness that increased in-migration cannot stand alone in a settlement strategy. The Regional Municipality must also focus on what makes residents leave the island, and what might make them stay or return.
Complication
The analysis shows that young people under 30 in particular move away from Bornholm in connection with education. When residents over 30 move away, the most common reasons are a lack of job opportunities and a desire to live closer to family who do not live on the island. A particular challenge for Bornholm is that the young people who return rarely have long-cycle higher education qualifications, which affects long-term economic development and the composition of the labour market. At the same time, many out-migrants and return migrants experience challenges related to transport, leisure opportunities and career pathways.
Recommendation
Epinion recommends that Bornholm Regional Municipality works in a targeted way to retain and attract residents through a differentiated strategy. For young people, stronger ties to the island during their studies – for example through internships, remote-working opportunities and social communities – can increase the likelihood of returning. For working-age residents, it is important to create attractive job opportunities, especially for people with long-cycle higher education qualifications, as their presence strengthens the island’s economy and development potential. To retain residents who did not grow up on Bornholm, it is key to increase their attachment to the island through initiatives that support social networks, such as cultural offerings and leisure opportunities. It is also important that Bornholm Regional Municipality continues to emphasise the island’s unique nature and safe local communities. By focusing on these areas, Bornholm can reduce out-migration and strengthen the municipality’s economy.
