The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more of us working from home than ever before. With a little more time on our hands to reflect and re-evaluate our lives, many people are considering regional relocation. The idea of a sea / tree change has probably never been more appealing.
This past year, large numbers of people have flocked out of Australia’s major cities. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than double the number of Australians moved to regional areas from capital cities in 2020 than in 2019.
For many employees, their new flexible work arrangements mean that living close to their city office for the daily commute might not be a requirement anymore. Some companies have indicated that their employees will be entitled to flexible work arrangements in perpetuity. This means people can relocate to wherever they choose while maintaining their current job.
A significant portion of the workforce now has the expectation that these working from home conditions should continue, for at least 2-3 days/week. Subsequently, some employees with these circumstances are moving to regions that are still within a commutable distance to their city office so that they can travel to work as required. This allows them to benefit from many regional living perks, such as a more affordable lifestyle, without taking the bigger leap of sourcing a new job in an area far removed from a city centre.
However, there are also many employees who are looking to relocate to a regional area and actually find employment there. While this is obviously job and industry dependent, there are certain sectors, such as Accounting, in which regional and smaller city job opportunities may be far better than you think. Here are a few reasons why:
Competitive Salary
There are jobs to be found all across the country, particularly in the Accounting sector. Smaller cities and regional areas are more likely to have an undersupply of skilled Accountants available for hire and consequently the demand for quality employees is high. As a result, firms in many regional cities are able to offer a salary that is comparable with a Sydney wage. There are even Accounting firms in Brisbane that are currently offering an increase on average Sydney salaries.
Lower Cost of Living
This one is fairly self-explanatory. There is no doubt that housing and living costs go down once you move out of a major city. Depending on where you choose to move; this extends beyond simply groceries and day-to-day consumables. The property may also be significantly cheaper – which is an important consideration for first homebuyers and young families in particular. Moving to a regional area might be the difference between purchasing your first home or continuing to rent.
Lifestyle
There are many benefits to regional living. With more space, closer proximity to nature and a more relaxed pace, you might find that the change does wonders for your mental health and work/life balance.
Also, people who live in cities tend to spend more time commuting than those in regional areas. If you’re undertaking further studies to benefit your career, such as Chartered Accounting, you might find you’re able to study using the time you would’ve otherwise spent commuting.
Fulfilling work
There is a myth that moving to a regional centre diminishes the quality of work that you get to do. In actual fact, regional locations are just like anywhere else – it’s entirely dependent on the firm and your role.
You might find you are given more responsibility more quickly due to the workplace being less competitive. You might also find that your employer is more easy-going and doesn’t pressure you to do crazy hours. Also, if they’re recruiting in an area that isn’t very densely populated, your employer may have struggled to find the right person for the role and therefore, you might find they value you more!
At the end of the day, if you can see a worthwhile opportunity in a regional or remote area, it’s important not to immediately dismiss it without taking the time to consider every angle. After all, a change is as good as a holiday!