Natural Hazards and Job Choice: How do reasons for current location and occupation align with reasons for final job choices?

Across multiple domains—hazard risk, crime risk, climate, income, location, community resources, and proximity to social networks—participants generally showed meaningful consistency. The strongest alignments were observed for crime (R² = 0.348) and hazard risk (R² = 0.301), indicating that individuals who prioritized safety or risk reduction in earlier decisions were highly likely to do so again when selecting a job. Social proximity also showed a strong and stable influence (R² = 0.183), suggesting that relationships and support networks play a significant role in employment decisions. Income (R² = 0.145), community resources (R² = 0.088), and location (R² = 0.087) were moderately aligned, with occupational motivations showing slightly stronger effects than residential ones for income and location. Climate preferences demonstrated lower but still significant alignment (R² = 0.107). When hazard concern and impact were used instead of reasoning, alignment weakened (R² = 0.089), reinforcing that explicit reasoning (“why I chose”) is a stronger predictor of job decisions than general attitudes or experience. Overall, the results suggest that personal values and motivations remain relatively stable and continue to shape decision-making.

Do people concerned about hazards say hazard risk was a reason for choosing their final job?

We examined whether individuals’ attitudes toward hazard risk aligned with their reported reasons for choosing a job, specifically whether concern about hazards and past hazard experience predicted citing hazard risk as a factor in job selection. Hazard concern was a significant positive predictor, indicating that individuals who were more concerned about hazards were more likely to report that hazard risk influenced their final job choice. Past experience with hazard impacts was marginally significant, suggesting a possible but weaker link between personal experience with hazards and hazard-based job decision-making. Together, these findings suggest that attitudes toward hazard risk are at least modestly aligned with self-reported job choice behaviors.

OLS Regression Summary

Do people’s post-choice reflections on their final job (e.g., hazard, climate, income, location) align with their earlier attitudes and reasons for choosing their current location or current job?

We tested whether individuals’ pre-choice attitudes and motivations aligned with their post-choice reflections on the role of hazard risk in job selection. Hazard-related motivations for selecting one’s current location (current_loc_reasons_hazard) emerged as a strong and statistically significant predictor of later citing hazard risk as a reason for selecting their final job. General hazard concern at one’s current location of residence (current_hazard_concern) was marginally significant, suggesting that attitudes toward hazards may influence decision-making indirectly, but may not always translate into explicit reasoning for final job choice.

OLS Regression Summary

Did participants who valued climate/weather when choosing where to live also value it when picking a job?

To assess whether individuals who considered climate and weather important when choosing where to live (current_loc_reasons_climate) also stated its importance when selecting their final job, we examined whether climate/weather importance in choice of current residence predicted climate importance in job choice. Climate importance in choice of residence was a strong and significant predictor of climate importance in job choice decisions. These results suggest that individual values related to climate remain relatively consistent, and that people who prioritize climate in deciding where to live are more likely to report that it also influenced their job selection.

OLS Regression Summary

Did participants who valued income when choosing where to live and work also value it when picking a job?

We tested whether participants who valued income in previous decisions — specifically when choosing where to live (current_loc_reasons_income) and their current occupation (current_occ_reasons_income) — also stated that it was a factor when selecting their final job. Participants who valued income in choosing where to live were significantly more likely to also cite income in their final job choice, and those who prioritized income when choosing their current occupation were highly likely to state that they prioritized income in their final job decision.

OLS Regression Summary

Did participants who valued location when choosing where to live and work also value it when picking a job?

We examined whether individuals who valued location in earlier decisions (i.e., choice of current location (current_loc_reasons_location) and current occupation (current_occ_reasons_location)) stated that they prioritized it when selecting their final job. Those who said location mattered in where they chose to currently live were more likely to say it mattered in job choice. Furthermore, those who prioritized location in choosing their current occupation were even more likely to state its importance in their final job decision.

OLS Regression Summary

Did participants who valued social networks when choosing where to live and work also value them when picking a job?

We tested whether individuals who previously cited proximity to social networks (e.g., family and friends) as important in choosing where to live also stated its importance when selecting their final job. Individuals who valued staying close to social networks when choosing where to live were significantly more likely to say it influenced their job choice as well.

OLS Regression Summary

Did participants who considered crime risk important when choosing where to live and work also value it when picking a job?

We examined whether individuals who prioritized crime risk in selecting their current place of residence (current_loc_reasons_crime) stated that it was important in their consideration of their final job. Individuals who viewed crime as important in where they live were very likely to also view it as important in job choice.

OLS Regression Summary

Did participants who considered community resources important when choosing where to live also value it when picking a job?

We evaluated whether individuals’ appreciation for community resources (such as access to amenities, public services, or a vibrant community) remained consistent across major decisions. Individuals who prioritized community resources in their location (current_loc_reasons_resources) were significantly more likely to cite them in their final job choice as well.

OLS Regression Summary

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• About the game
• Methodology
• About the participants
• Hazard exposure and concern
• Factors influencing job choice and relocation
• Reasons for current location, occupation, and final job choice
• Alignment of attitudes and actions
• Predicting job choice outcomes
• Conclusions