FAST FACTS FROM THE REGIONAL AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE’S LATEST REPORT:

* Three in five Australian city workers say their current salary isn’t enough to keep up with the rising cost of living

* Cost pressures are hitting hardest in Perth, with nearly 90 per cent of people saying their current salary is inadequate

* Nearly half of city workers (46 per cent) say a salary increase would persuade them to take a job in a rural or regional area

* Sydneysiders are most likely to be persuaded to move regional with 93 per cent saying they would consider the change

* One in 10 Australians say they could never be persuaded to take a job in the regions

* People aged 18 to 34 are most likely to consider a move to regional Australia

* Advertised job opportunities rose by six per cent across regional Australia in the past year, while job ads declined by 7.9 per cent in metropolitan areas

* Across Australia, dissatisfaction with city life has risen from 10 per cent in 2020 to 14 per cent in 2023

* Three-quarters of people view moving to regional Australia as an opportunity to reduce their overall stress and anxiety

* Eighty per cent of Australians believe living in the regions will lead to improved wellbeing

* Almost three in four people with flexible working arrangements say the ability to work from home has increased their interest in moving to the regions

* Seventy-five per cent of people are concerned about accessing health services in regional areas

* Victorians are the most concerned about moving away from friends and family, with 57 per cent saying it was a major concern

* More than half of people (56 per cent) would consider moving to a large coastal area, while only 34 per cent would move to inland areas

* Fifty-five per cent want to stay within two hours of their current city home

Tara Cosoleto
(Australian Associated Press)