Surge in Australians seeking job opportunities in regional areas

Moving out of cities can provide great opportunities for those willing to take the leap.

Regional job vacancies are skyrocketing and may soon eclipse those faced in the city.

With many major businesses now operating regional headquarters, recruiter Rhyley Hunter says not only has worker demand increased but the opportunities on offer are just as lucrative as those within the metropolitan area.

“The vacancy rates are on par with the cities, if not more severe … and there seems to be no end in sight,’’ says Hunter, chief executive officer of Huntsman Recruiting, whose offices are in Wagga Wagga and Albury, in NSW.

Regional jobs going begging

Tradies, as well as professionals such as accountants and engineers, are in particular demand, says Hunter.

“There is a monumental need for professionals within regional and remote Australia,’’ he says.

“With no word of a lie, if I knew ten to 20 senior accountants that were willing to relocate regionally, we would have them placed (in jobs) within the week.

“The roles are here, the opportunities are here, we simply need people to take them – bite the bullet and make the move.’’

Rhyley Hunter of Huntsman Recruiting.

Living the dream

Capital city lockdowns during the pandemic sparked reports that metropolitan Australians were seeking a tree change but, for many, that has proved just a daydream.

Hunter says a better work-life balance is one of the best reasons to move out of the city, adding that regional areas are far more than the common perception of a “country town’’.

“We are cities in our own right and offer amazing facilities, events, pubs, clubs and cafes,’’ he says.

Research by Seek shows less than one in five Australians want to work in a rural location.

Of all workers, Baby Boomers are the most open to regional opportunities, with 20 per cent saying they would be “delighted’’ if a role was rurally located or listing it amongst their employment must-haves.

In comparison, more than half of Generation Y workers prefer jobs that are close to the CBD.

Seek research manager Caroline North believes rather than a “dramatic’’ tree change, many city workers have made an incremental move to suburban fringe areas instead.

“It would be really interesting to see how much of that (tree change) dream is still to be realised over the next five years or the next 10 years,’’ North says.

“But we actually haven’t seen huge amounts of change (in the number of people moving to regional areas) in the last three years.’’

Best of both worlds

Mars Wrigley human resources director Katy Halliwell says exceptional regional business centres exist throughout Australia, fostering a strong sense of community while also providing quality employment opportunities.

The chocolate and chewing gum manufacturer employs almost 700 people in regional and outer-city areas, including in Ballarat, Victoria.

“One of the biggest advantages of working in the regions for a global company like Mars Wrigley is that you get the best of both worlds,’’ Halliwell says.

“While you have all the lifestyle benefits of living regionally, you are also able to work on global brands and projects.’’

Emily Boucher.

A delicious opportunity

The dream of a relaxed lifestyle prompted Emily Boucher to seek out regional work opportunities.

Having grown up on a small farm in Buninyong, near Ballarat in Victoria, Boucher moved to regional Geelong to complete a Bachelor of Marketing, majoring in public relations and advertising.

After graduation, she accepted a role at Mars Wrigley’s Ballarat factory, where she now works as a production operator.

“I made the conscious decision to move to a regional centre as I enjoy the quiet and relaxed nature of regional living,’’ Boucher says.

“Working in regional Victoria also means that I don’t have a long commute to get to work. My current route is a five-minute drive to and from work and no traffic jams or hook turns are also a bonus.’’

Boucher has not ruled out one day working in the city, saying there are some social opportunities lacking in the regions.

“Thankfully, Melbourne is only a short public transport trip away,’’ she says.

“With that being said, choosing to live in regional Victoria allowed me to purchase my first home at 20 years old, something that would have been unattainable had I been living in Melbourne.’’

Originally published as Surge in Australians seeking job opportunities in regional areas