Greater Newcastle has been ranked Australia’s fourth fastest-growing city for career opportunities, with new data showing more professionals are choosing the region over Sydney.
LinkedIn’s 2026 Cities on the Rise report analysed hiring growth, new job opportunities and professional migration over the past year, placing Newcastle behind Hobart, Darwin and Rockhampton.
According to LinkedIn, Newcastle’s mix of career opportunities, lifestyle and relative affordability is attracting workers looking for an alternative to the capital cities.
Valley Estate Leasing Manager and Licensed Real Estate Agent Tom Cross said he had noticed the shift in the local rental market over the past 18 months.
“It’s definitely a common trend,” he said.
“They’re either coming directly from Sydney or they’re coming from interstate.
“I’d say it’s making up about 30 per cent of all my tenants at the moment.”
Mr Cross said the increase had changed the way agencies marketed properties, with virtual inspections now a daily request from prospective tenants relocating to the region.
“About a year and a half ago that was a request we got once in a blue moon,” he said.
“Now it’s something we get every day,” he said.
He said suburbs including Raymond Terrace, Cameron Park and Gillieston Heights were proving popular with families looking for more affordable housing close to Newcastle.
“Anything in Raymond Terrace we get is almost gone as soon as we put it online at the moment,” Mr Cross told Newcastle Weekly.
LinkedIn Career Expert Brendan Wong said Australians were increasingly considering more than just salary when deciding where to live and work.
“Workers are rethinking what makes a city worth moving to,” he said.
“Beyond salary, factors like affordability, career progression, workplace flexibility and overall quality of life are becoming just as important when deciding whether a relocation is worthwhile.”
The rankings are based on three measures.
These include year-on-year hiring growth, growth in job opportunities and the migration of professionals between cities.
Greater Newcastle was the highest-ranked city in New South Wales, finishing ahead of Wollongong, which placed 10th nationally.
The top five cities were Greater Hobart, Greater Darwin, Rockhampton, Greater Newcastle and Greater Adelaide.
LinkedIn said the rankings are designed to help job seekers identify emerging employment markets by measuring growth in hiring, job availability and the movement of professionals into each region.
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