More than half of Australian residents living in large cities are open to moving to smaller areas in search of more affordable housing and better conditions for raising children.
A study by the University of South Australia revealed that 53% of city dwellers would consider relocating to a mid-sized city.
Researchers surveyed more than 3,000 Australians in 2021, focusing on their living preferences and factors influencing relocation decisions, such as employment and social connectedness.
The survey found that 84% of respondents were living in large cities, with over half willing to move to smaller towns. However, a significant barrier was the lack of job opportunities in these areas.
“Our study found that people are willing to relocate to smaller towns but are unable to do so due to a lack of suitable employment opportunities,” said associate professor Akshay Vij, lead researcher for the study.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a notable shift in regional populations, driven by remote work capabilities and health concerns associated with high population densities.
For the first time since 1981, Australia’s regional population grew more than the capital cities during 2020-21, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria.
However, recent data from the ABS indicated a return to pre-pandemic population trends as remote work opportunities diminish.
“The pandemic and increased adoption of working from home enabled short-term migration to the regions,” Vij said. “But as the pandemic has receded and most workers have returned to the workplace, opportunities to work remotely from a small regional centre have faded as well.”
The study highlighted the need to relieve population strain on major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, which have seen significant growth.
Between 2011 and 2021, the population in capital cities increased by 17%, compared to 11% in regional Australia. In 2019-20, 72% of Australians lived in the five largest capital cities.
Vij emphasised the impact of this growth.
“The strain on our big cities is reflected by the current expensive housing market, the rising level of housing unaffordability, growing traffic congestion, and overcrowded schools and hospitals,” he said.
Efforts to establish new urban centers have faced challenges, with many projects failing to develop into major population hubs.
“Various efforts have been made over the years by past governments to establish new urban centres, however many of these, such as Monarto in SA, have failed to transpire or emerge as major population centres,” Vij said.
Understanding residents’ preferences and addressing employment challenges are key to encouraging migration to smaller towns and alleviating pressure on Australia’s largest cities.
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