Invest
Net migration to the regions has more than doubled
Elevated levels of regional migration have continued throughout the pandemic, according to a new report.
Net migration to the regions has more than doubled
Elevated levels of regional migration have continued throughout the pandemic, according to a new report.
Net migration to the regions has more than doubled compared to the two years prior, while the influx of people from the capital cities to the regions has jumped 15 per cent.
The findings from the Regional Movers Index published by the Commonwealth Bank and Regional Australia Institute (RAI) confirmed that regional areas continued to attract Aussies throughout the pandemic despite a slight decline in migration during the December quarter.
“City siders have really embraced Australia’s regions over the past two years and as we see flexible working arrangements continue and Australia’s domestic and international borders opening up, it’s likely we will continue to see this movement as people recognise the benefits of a regional lifestyle,” said CBA executive general manager for regional and agribusiness banking Paul Fowler.
The number of Aussies relocating to regional areas was down 10 per cent compared to the previous quarter due to seasonal effects and high migration seen in earlier quarters.
CBA and RAI also pointed to growth in regional prices as having an impact on migration during the latter part of the year.
For the full year, the Gold Coast was the most popular area for capital city relocators with an 11 per cent share of total regional migration, followed by the Sunshine Coast (5 per cent), Greater Geelong (4 per cent), Wollongong (3 per cent) and Lake Macquarie (2 per cent).
Sydney and Melbourne accounted for a collective 99 per cent of net outflows from capital cities, while the majority of regional net inflows went to regional NSW (50 per cent) and regional Victoria (46 per cent).
“With two years of the index we can now clearly see the impact that COVID has had on people seeking a regional lifestyle. It is particularly exciting that many of the smaller regions showing high rates of growth are inland towns,” said RAI chief economist and acting chief executive Dr Kim Houghton.
“It looks like the pandemic is changing some long-established movement paths, which is a good sign for more balanced population growth across Australia in the future.”
RELATED ARTICLES
Economy
Australia’s softening labour market puts another RBA cut in play — here’s what business should do now
A four-year high in unemployment has revived expectations the Reserve Bank could deliver another rate cut as soon as November. With quarterly GDP growth running at 0.6 per cent and annual growth at ...Read more
Economy
Rising CPI reinforces RBA’s stance as rate cut expectations remain: State Street
State Street Global Advisors says the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is likely to hold its current policy outlook following the release of September quarter inflation data, which showed an unexpected ...Read more
Economy
NSW SES boosts tsunami preparedness ahead of World Tsunami Awareness Day
As World Tsunami Awareness Day approaches on 5 November, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is ramping up efforts to enhance tsunami preparedness along the east coastRead more
Economy
Lifesaving Regional Response Strengthened with New NSW SES Vehicles
In a significant boost to regional emergency services, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has unveiled 11 new Community First Response (CFR) vehicles, designed to enhance the speed and safety of ...Read more
Economy
Australia's June quarter GDP growth driven by consumer and government spending
Australia's economy has shown unexpected resilience in the June 2025 quarter, with household and government consumption driving growth despite a significant decline in public investmentRead more
Economy
Australia's GDP surprise is real but operators should heed the growth mix warning light
Australia’s June-quarter growth beat expectations on the strength of household consumption and government spending, even as public investment sagged. The upside surprise signals resilience, but the ...Read more
Economy
Households carried the quarter: what Australia’s upside GDP surprise means for strategy now
Australia’s economy expanded faster than expected in the June 2025 quarter, with GDP up 0.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 1.8 per cent year-on-year — the strongest pace in two years. The kicker ...Read more
Economy
Inflation dynamics in Australia: Electricity subsidies and labour market in focus
In a recent economic analysis, experts from State Street have highlighted significant developments in Australia's inflation landscape, attributing the changes primarily to the withdrawal of ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s softening labour market puts another RBA cut in play — here’s what business should do now
A four-year high in unemployment has revived expectations the Reserve Bank could deliver another rate cut as soon as November. With quarterly GDP growth running at 0.6 per cent and annual growth at ...Read more
Economy
Rising CPI reinforces RBA’s stance as rate cut expectations remain: State Street
State Street Global Advisors says the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is likely to hold its current policy outlook following the release of September quarter inflation data, which showed an unexpected ...Read more
Economy
NSW SES boosts tsunami preparedness ahead of World Tsunami Awareness Day
As World Tsunami Awareness Day approaches on 5 November, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is ramping up efforts to enhance tsunami preparedness along the east coastRead more
Economy
Lifesaving Regional Response Strengthened with New NSW SES Vehicles
In a significant boost to regional emergency services, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has unveiled 11 new Community First Response (CFR) vehicles, designed to enhance the speed and safety of ...Read more
Economy
Australia's June quarter GDP growth driven by consumer and government spending
Australia's economy has shown unexpected resilience in the June 2025 quarter, with household and government consumption driving growth despite a significant decline in public investmentRead more
Economy
Australia's GDP surprise is real but operators should heed the growth mix warning light
Australia’s June-quarter growth beat expectations on the strength of household consumption and government spending, even as public investment sagged. The upside surprise signals resilience, but the ...Read more
Economy
Households carried the quarter: what Australia’s upside GDP surprise means for strategy now
Australia’s economy expanded faster than expected in the June 2025 quarter, with GDP up 0.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 1.8 per cent year-on-year — the strongest pace in two years. The kicker ...Read more
Economy
Inflation dynamics in Australia: Electricity subsidies and labour market in focus
In a recent economic analysis, experts from State Street have highlighted significant developments in Australia's inflation landscape, attributing the changes primarily to the withdrawal of ...Read more
