New research has revealed the best cities for the 195,000 permanent migrants moving to Australia this year.
The survey results come as the Australian government’s Permanent Migration Program is increasing its intake to 195,000 placements in the 2023 financial year, up from 160,000 in the previous financial year.
The arrangement will see up to 142,400 skilled visa placements being approved to improve the productive capacity of the economy and fill skills shortages in the labour market, while up to 52,500 Partner visas are being approved to reunite people in Australia with family members from overseas.
Immigration to Australia, an immigration assistance and advice platform, commissioned an independent survey, to ask Australian residents to identify the best cities for immigrants moving to Australia permanently, based on eight factors of habitability: welcoming to residents, potential for business success, family-friendly, value, lifestyle, well-paying jobs, climate, and safety.
Melbourne, which according to ABS received the highest intake of immigrants from 2019-20 (56,100 immigrants), ranked first as the most welcoming city for immigrants, attracting 36% of votes. The city was also chosen as top family-friendly city, with 23% of votes.
Melbourne and Sydney, which received the second-highest intake of immigrants (50,100 immigrants), tied for first place as the best cities to start a business, garnering 31% of votes. Sydney also took the honours as the top city for well-paying jobs, chosen by 40% of respondents.
Hobart placed first as the safest city (37%), despite receiving the second-lowest intake of immigrants of Australian capital cities from 2019-20; while Brisbane was deemed the best both for lifestyle (24%) and for climate (37%), despite only receiving 16,191 international immigrants in the same period.
Neither Darwin nor Perth ranked first for any key factor of habitability for immigrants.
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