Recent findings from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) shed light on the sustained trend of individuals moving from urban centres to regional areas.
The study, focusing on demographic and economic drivers, provides vital insights for urban planning and regional development strategies.
The AHURI research, led by Nicole Gurran (pictured), chair of urbanism at the University of Sydney, revealed that, with few exceptions, there has been a consistent trend since 2007 of more people leaving Australia’s capital cities than moving into them.
“Our research found that the people leaving cities are typically not young people at the start of their careers, but are older people with more financial resources,” Gurran said. “They are often seeking a better lifestyle and often become homeowners in their new location.”
Significantly, the study underscored that those aged 65 and over are more inclined to leave cities, while younger individuals aged 16–25 are drawn to urban areas, primarily for employment opportunities.
The economic profiles of migrants showed that those exiting cities possess higher household wealth and income, suggesting that financial stability plays a crucial role in facilitating mobility.
While employment remains a dominant reason for moving to cities, accounting for 28% of the motivation, lifestyle (15%) and personal reasons (25%) also influence migration decisions.
Conversely, individuals leaving cities cite lifestyle changes (28%), personal reasons (25%), and better housing opportunities (21%) as their primary drivers.
To better manage these migration trends, the AHURI report highlighted several key policy recommendations:
The AHURI report not only highlighted the current trends in regional migration but also offered a blueprint for future growth.
Learn more about the report from the AHURI and The University of Sydney webpages.
