Long-time city slicker Emma Jane Edwards accepted a job opportunity in Darwin 18 months ago.
Motivated by the potential to further her career, she admits it was a scary proposition at first, but she was ready for a change. But what happened next surprised her the most.
“I made the decision on a whim because the job sounded interesting. What I didn’t expect was to love it so much here. This is probably the best job and best lifestyle I’ve had in my life.”
Working in communications and marketing for the local council, the 37-year-old has fallen so in love with the Top End that she’s planning to buy a home in the suburbs soon.
“I’ve always loved Sydney and thought it offered a great work-life balance. But I’ve fallen in love with Darwin, which really caught me off guard. I definitely think of Darwin as being a long-time move for me.”
While she misses swimming at Bondi Beach, Emma Jane has taken up fishing and recently landed a huge barramundi, which has her hooked on the pastime.
‘Two-thirds of professionals say they work to live and not the other way around.’
LinkedIn career expert Brendan Wong
“I love to go camping in Kakadu and spend most weekends fishing rather than lying on the beach. I’ve embraced the lifestyle change. It’s hard not to love it here,” Edwards says.
Regions gain traction
Research shows that one of the biggest factors driving career satisfaction these days might not be your role or employer – it could be your postcode.
LinkedIn measured job migration to understand geographical movements over the past two years based on the location workers list on their profile.
The jobs site analysed millions of member profiles and job postings between March 2024 and February 2026 to discover that regional and smaller city centres are experiencing the strongest momentum as more workers leave Sydney and Melbourne to further their careers.
The data aims to help professionals identify emerging markets where economic growth, expanding industries and strong communities could present new job opportunities.
LinkedIn career expert Brendan Wong says workers have been looking beyond salary to instead value flexibility and lifestyle.
“Two-thirds of professionals say they work to live and not the other way around, reflecting an increased focus on balancing career ambition with overall quality of life. That balance can often be found outside major metropolitan cities,” Wong says.
Tourism, health, technology, mining and higher education are popular industries in regional cities where hiring is accelerating and job demand is climbing as new talent puts down roots, the LinkedIn data shows.
Given that the median house price across Australia’s capital cities is now $1.2 million, it’s possible that moving to cheaper cities is also motivated by the ability to get a foothold on the property market in a regional area.
Hobart came out on top in the data, with strong interstate migration, hybrid work and relatively tight labour market conditions supporting its momentum as more professionals seek affordability and lifestyle options.
Rockhampton, Newcastle, Darwin, Adelaide, Albury-Wodonga, Canberra, Wollongong, Brisbane and the Gold Coast rounded out the top 10.
With growth in healthcare, education and tourism supporting the economy and an expanding technology sector, Hobart also happens to offer 23.3 per cent hybrid roles, while 3 per cent of the roles are remote.
Edwin Johnstone, chair of Business Greater Hobart, says the city offers the chance to build a career or business while remaining closely connected to the community.
“Hobart has the culture, food, events and professional opportunities of a much larger city, but people and places are more accessible. You can finish work in the city and quickly be on the mountain, at a beach or walking through the bush.”
However, Wong warns against making hasty decisions. He also recommends actively networking once you move to establish a sense of belonging.
“Make sure you spend time in a new city before making the big move. Disappointment arises when you don’t do your research,” Wong says.
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