World Economy

More unemployed managers and executives are deciding to pack their bags and move for a new position, according to a report released this week by Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

During the first half of the year, about 9.4% of job seekers relocated for a job, up from 7.6% within the same window of time in 2010, according to the outplacement consultancy firm. That’s from a survey of about 3,000 job seekers; many of the respondents are managers and executives.

“The 9.4% relocation rate in the first half of 2011 is still low by historical standards, but the increase does indicate that job seekers are finally beginning to loosen the stakes that have kept them tethered to a specific region,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, in a news release.

“Since there has been little improvement in the housing market in 2011, one might conclude that the increased relocation in the first half of the year is due to the fact that prolonged unemployment is compelling more job seekers to relocate, despite the challenges of selling a home in this market,” Challenger said.

“At some point, the job seeker may simply conclude that it is worth taking a loss on a home sale to get back on the payroll,” he said. It’s also possible that employers are becoming more willing to help employees relocate.

Before the recession it was more common for people move for a job, according to the report. About 16.1% of people who found jobs each quarter between the first quarter of 2005 and the third quarter of 2007 relocated for the position. But at that time, selling a house wasn’t nearly as difficult as it is in today’s climate.

Read more real-estate news in this week’s pages, including why the foreclosure rate is on the rise in Seattle and a Realty Q&A about one reader’s struggle with his lender.

Employment markets in some parts of the country are recovering faster than others, and in a job search, “when you cast a wider net, you are more likely to catch more fish,” Challenger said.

But these days, if you’re a homeowner, casting a wider net often means you also have to be OK with taking a loss on the sale of your home.