Regional areas the nation’s ‘destination of choice’

Regional Australia Institute’s (RAI) Regional Movers Index for the September quarter of 2024 has found that 35.6 per cent more people are making the move away from the capital cities and into regional areas.

During the quarter, the Regional Movers Index (RMI) rose by 1.1 per cent (this measures city-to-regional migration), while migration away from regional areas to metropolitan areas fell by 5 per cent over the same period.

This has resulted in city-to-regional migration accounting for 11.3 per cent of all internal migration flows, as opposed to 8.3 per cent for regional-to-capital movers.

The RMI has been pushed 1.8 per cent above the average levels recorded during the zenith of the pandemic lockdowns and 19.8 per cent higher than pre-COVID-19 times, RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said.

“In contrast, the inter-regional migration index – which tracks regional to regional relocations – has fallen by 5.1 per cent, suggesting that more regional residents are content to stay where they are,” Ritchie said.

“With the continuing strong jobs market across regional Australia, increasing city property prices and ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it’s no surprise the regions remain desirable.”

Ritchie said that the net migration index, which measures the population flow into regional Australia, now sits at its highest level since March 2022 and 80 per cent above the pre-COVID-19 average.

According to the research, the divergence in internal migration flows has resulted in a 23.4 per cent increase to the net migration index, marking its fifth consecutive rise.

Furthermore, declining migration flows from regional areas to the cities could signify the impact of increased living costs and a tighter urban housing and job market.

Regional job vacancies rose to 75,742 during the September quarter – the first increase since the March quarter – reflecting a “steady and robust demand for jobs in regional areas”.

“It’s vital this demographic shift is recognised, and regional communities are provided with the infrastructure, services and support they need. As a nation, we must acknowledge that we are in a new era of migration where regional Australia is at the forefront,” Ritchie said.

“Regional Australia is truly the nation’s new frontier. There are so many opportunities in our regional communities, but likewise we know there are challenges.

”Housing for example remains a key ongoing concern in many communities. Regional Australia is growing and for that to continue we need adequate foundations. The time to lay them is now.”

[RELATED: Australia entering ‘new era’ of internal migration]

Adrian Suljanovic is a journalist at Broker Daily with more than two years experience reporting on all facets of the third party distribution channel.

Adrian has written for a range of business and finance titles including IFA, Investor Daily and Lawyer’s Weekly before joining the mortgages team in 2022.

He graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2021 gaining a Bachelor of Communication & Media with a major in Digital & Social Media.

E-mail Adrian at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.