Mobility patterns and characterisation of functional urban areas in low-density regions: Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)

The spatial research of labour markets has been often carried out from a local perspective, analysing their characteristics in the urban and metropolises frameworks. The spatial structures have been increasing their complexity because of several reasons, amongst them stand out mobility and employment in our society. The application of the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) and its proposal of polycentric structures set out a scheme which allows a wider approach to the labour market research, both the scale perspective and factors analysed. The paper focuses in the structure of relations in Castilla-La Mancha starting from the ESPD premises. This is a central region of Spain described as a large territory with low density population, small and medium cities normally distant between them but with certain proximity to outer metropolitan areas, mainly Madrid. The mobility patterns are being analyzed in the region, giving priority to those for working purposes. By them the functional urban areas (FUA) are being detected and their main characteristics are, and therefore approaching to a better understanding of the labour markets in a regional scale. The analysis is completed including the relationship between transport and functional areas. To success in these purposes different data sources has been used, highlighting the "linked population", a statistical parameter gather by Spanish Census which quantifies population flows between municipalities for three different reasons: work, secondary dwelling and education. By analysing them and in combination with accessibility and connectivity studies we are in a position for a better understanding of the structure of this mobility patterns and commuting in a regional and sub-regional scope, and the interaction between urban functional areas.