IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-2p3778-3789.html

Examining Job Accessibility in Urban and Suburban Settings

Author

Listed:
  • Narimah Samat

    (Geography Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia)

  • Hafizah Rosli

    (Geography Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study explores the accessibility of job opportunities in urban and suburban areas, focusing on how residential segregation and the geographic distribution of employment impact marginalized communities. The research specifically assesses the spatial mismatch hypothesis, investigating the relationship between transportation infrastructure, socioeconomic status, and residential location in shaping access to employment opportunities. By comparing urban and suburban settings, the study highlights the persistent barriers faced by low-income individuals in metropolitan areas. Findings confirm and expand upon the spatial mismatch theory, revealing that low-income individuals, particularly those in suburban districts, face longer commutes due to the separation of residential areas from job centers. The use of motorbikes, preferred for their cost-effectiveness and flexibility, underscores the economic constraints of these commuters. Additionally, housing affordability and the distance from urban centers exacerbate employment barriers, especially in suburban areas where access to both jobs and services is limited. The study concludes that the spatial mismatch hypothesis remains relevant and stresses the need for integrated urban planning policies that address job-housing balance, affordable housing, and improved transportation infrastructure. Policy recommendations include developing affordable housing near employment hubs, expanding public transport networks, creating local employment opportunities, and promoting mixed-use developments to reduce commuting burdens. Such policies are essential for mitigating the challenges of spatial mismatch and fostering equitable access to employment, housing, and services for low-income communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Narimah Samat & Hafizah Rosli, 2025. "Examining Job Accessibility in Urban and Suburban Settings," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(2), pages 3778-3789, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-2:p:3778-3789
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-2/3778-3789.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/examining-job-accessibility-in-urban-and-suburban-settings/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bowes, David R. & Ihlanfeldt, Keith R., 2001. "Identifying the Impacts of Rail Transit Stations on Residential Property Values," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 1-25, July.
    2. John F. Kain, 1968. "Housing Segregation, Negro Employment, and Metropolitan Decentralization," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 82(2), pages 175-197.
    3. Reid Ewing & Robert Cervero, 2010. "Travel and the Built Environment," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(3), pages 265-294.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fei Li & Christopher Kajetan Wyczalkowski, 2023. "How buses alleviate unemployment and poverty: Lessons from a natural experiment in Clayton County, GA," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(13), pages 2632-2650, October.
    2. Pasha, Obed & Wyczalkowski, Chris & Sohrabian, Dro & Lendel, Iryna, 2020. "Transit effects on poverty, employment, and rent in Cuyahoga County, Ohio," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 33-41.
    3. Xiaoxu, Xing & Qiangmin, Xi & Weihao, Shi, 2024. "Impact of urban compactness on carbon emission in Chinese cities: From moderating effects of industrial diversity and job-housing imbalances," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Papa, Enrica & Bertolini, Luca, 2015. "Accessibility and Transit-Oriented Development in European metropolitan areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 70-83.
    5. Qing Shen & Simin Xu & Jiang Lin, 2018. "Effects of bus transit-oriented development (BTOD) on single-family property value in Seattle metropolitan area," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(13), pages 2960-2979, October.
    6. Bereitschaft, Bradley, 2020. "Gentrification and the evolution of commuting behavior within America's urban cores, 2000–2015," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Jenny Schuetz, 2015. "Do rail transit stations encourage neighbourhood retail activity?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(14), pages 2699-2723, November.
    8. Jeremy Gabe & Spenser Robinson & Andrew Sanderford, 2022. "Willingness to Pay for Attributes of Location Efficiency," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 65(3), pages 384-418, October.
    9. Erik B Lunke & Nils Fearnley & Jørgen Aarhaug, 2023. "The geography of public transport competitiveness in thirteen medium sized cities," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 50(8), pages 2071-2086, October.
    10. Qiao, Si & Yeh, Anthony Gar-On, 2021. "Is ride-hailing a valuable means of transport in newly developed areas under TOD-oriented urbanization in China? Evidence from Chengdu City," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    11. Zhao, Pengjun & Wan, Jie, 2021. "Land use and travel burden of residents in urban fringe and rural areas: An evaluation of urban-rural integration initiatives in Beijing," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. Blanco, Hilda & Wikstrom, Alexander, 2018. "Transit-Oriented Development Opportunities Among Failing Malls," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt3h62q04h, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    13. Mondschein, Andrew Samuel, 2012. "The Personal City: The Experimental, Cognitive Nature of Travel and Activity and Implications for Accessibility," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt67d5w48s, University of California Transportation Center.
    14. Nasri, Arefeh & Zhang, Lei, 2019. "Multi-level urban form and commuting mode share in rail station areas across the United States; a seemingly unrelated regression approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 311-319.
    15. Bollinger, Christopher R. & Ihlanfeldt, Keith R., 2003. "The intraurban spatial distribution of employment: which government interventions make a difference?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 396-412, May.
    16. Aberle, Christoph & Gertz, Carsten, 2025. "Does a short journey get me to the food bank? An empirical study on fare-based public transport accessibility and its implications for social equity," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    17. Mondschein, Andrew Samuel, 2013. "The Personal City: The Experiential, Cognitive Nature of Travel and Activity and Implications for Accessibility," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt7014d9cg, University of California Transportation Center.
    18. Dagney Faulk & Michael Hicks, 2010. "The Economic Effects of Bus Transit in Small Cities," Public Finance Review, , vol. 38(5), pages 513-539, September.
    19. Saiz, Albert & Salazar-Miranda, Arianna, 2023. "Understanding Urban Economies, Land Use, and Social Dynamics in the City: Big Data and Measurement," IZA Discussion Papers 16501, IZA Network @ LISER.
    20. Fabrice Gilles & Sabina Issehnane & Florent Sari, 2022. "Using short-term jobs as a way to find a regular job. What kind of role for local context?," TEPP Working Paper 2022-07, TEPP.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-2:p:3778-3789. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.