75% of workers in big cities would move somewhere less expensive if they could

Dive Brief:

Almost three-quarters of knowledge workers would leave the major cities they currently reside in if they could perform their work as well living elsewhere, a new report from Citrix Systems conducted by OnePoll revealed. Housing crunches and the high cost of living in metro areas may be drivers of the desire to move to outlying areas; of the 5,000 surveyed, 58% said the cost of city living was "crippling."
Their solution is remote work. Of those surveyed, 85% said they could do their job as effectively from anywhere. Another 62% who spend all their time in the office said they think they could work from home at least one day per week.
Nearly 70% of respondents said working remotely would boost their focus and productivity. And more than 80% said it would help them have a healthier work-life balance.

Dive Insight:

Mobility for the workforce is important as job seekers look to advance their careers; but many now are attempting to balance their ambition with the cost of living associated with large metropolitan areas. As respondents to the survey made clear, remote work may provide a solution for many businesses looking to keep a workforce that is itching to move where rent, gas and grocery bills eat up less of a paycheck. Remote work, now available at 56% of the world's workplaces, is growing in feasibility and popularity as technology advances. According to the 2018 Global State of Remote Work by OWL Labs, 52% of its 3,000 respondents work outside the office at least once a week.

For tech talent, voluntary relocation away from large markets may be the newest trend in the industry, an Indeed study revealed. With housing and cost of living on the rise in hubs like Silicon Valley, many are taking advantage of the opportunity to be in more affordable environs or to work remotely. While some studies indicate the majority of workers are willing to relocate for the right opportunity, others indicate the opposite. As businesses grapple with conflicting research and attempt to keep talent, they may need to prioritize finding the right mix of salary and opportunity to maintain head count.