FACTBase Bulletin 27 - Migrants' Attraction to Cities - Implications for Perth

Migration has long been an important component of Australia’s economic development framework.

Key Findings

• Perth has the highest proportion of the state population out of all the Australian capital cities at 70% and 40.4% of its population is foreign-born.
• Western Australia accounted for almost 20% of Australia’s total intake of 457 visa holders in 2011, most of which are employed in mining and construction.
• Top citizenship countries for visa 457 holders entering Western Australia in 2006-2007 is largely from the United Kingdom as the top origin country, followed by the Philippines as the second and South Africa as the third.
• Pull factors for the creative class and knowledge workers doesn’t only include economic opportunity, but also includes the richness of cultural amenities, recreational opportunities, and the ‘buzz’ of local arts and music scene, the attractiveness and condition of the natural environment and built form, the quality of schools, and safety.
• A review of the Committee for Perth Reflections of Perth and Insight newsletters on what leaders in the business community love about Perth indicated that diversity and the quality of life in Perth are highly valued.