Record numbers of Victorians flee interstate

Extended lockdowns have caused people to relocate with interstate businesses flooded with job applications from Victorians looking to escape.

Victorians sick of regular lockdowns are looking to move interstate in record numbers as business leaders warn the state’s economy will suffer as a result.

New figures from job website Seek show Melburnians were the top interstate applicants for Sydney jobs.

They also made up 8.8 per cent of online applicants for postings listed in Adelaide.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra told the Sunday Herald Sun that businesses should be allowed to reopen to prevent other states poaching Victorian jobs.

“We want to keep as many businesses and jobs in Victoria as possible,” Mr Guerra said.

“If businesses can’t operate, off the back of being shut for most of 2020, no one could blame them for seeking greener pastures elsewhere.

“The best support we can give businesses right now is to allow them to operate, ensure they are QR code compliant and have a CovidSafe plan in place.”

Seek’s senior employment analyst Leigh Broderick said data from the site showed Melburnians were gearing up to move interstate for work.

“In the six months to May 2021, Melbourne-based jobseekers were the top applicants by location for jobs in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth,” Ms Broderick said.

Online booking platform Muval also reported an uptick in Victorians inquiring about relocating interstate, with a 50 per cent jump in people searching “move away from Melbourne”.

Victorians have made more than 50,000 internet searches for “can I move during lockdown?” since the state government announced its fourth lockdown.

About 10,000 queries have been made since Wednesday when restrictions were ­extended by another week.

Muval co-founder James Morrell said Melburnians were opting to move to Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, where worker grants and travel incentives were being promoted to attract ­interstate workers.

“Melbourne to Sydney has jumped to the No.1 position during May 2021,” Mr Morrell said.

“Brisbane and Perth continue to see around 40 per cent more inbound traffic from Melbourne rather than the other way around.

“This has been the case since early 2021.”

There have been more than one million searches for “moving house” on Muval since the pandemic began.

The ramped-up searches for interstate postings mirror the most recent findings of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed Melbourne this year had suffered its biggest net migration loss since 2008 after losing 12,737 residents to other states.

Croydon mother of two ­Vienna Magan, 30, said she felt “disheartened” having to move north to Queensland with her young family to find stable and higher-paying work as a nurse.

“We are sick of lockdown and uncertainty,” Ms Magan said.

“As a family it would be nice to localise ourselves for school and work.

“There, I can develop my clinical skills within the hospital environment with better pay.”

Workspaces chief executive Jenny Folley said she chose to move to Brisbane after Victoria’s statewide lockdown was announced last week in order to grow her business in leasing office space.

“The business just took a dive,” Ms Folley said.

“Business hasn’t picked up here. In Queensland, business is booming and our offices are full.”

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