South East Queensland is outpacing Sydney and Melbourne when it comes to job growth. Over the past five years, more than one in five of Australia’s new jobs have been created in the region as skilled workers increasingly choose lifestyle and opportunity over traditional city centres.
This is more than just an employment story. It is a clear signal for property investors. For those looking to build portfolios of positive cash flow investment properties, areas with strong job growth tend to have higher demand for housing and rental properties.
At Positive Income Properties, we keep a close eye on these trends because employment growth is one of the most reliable indicators of strong rental demand, population growth and long-term property value.
Why Is South East Queensland Now Australia’s Jobs Powerhouse?
Brisbane is outperforming southern capitals as the choice of skilled workers. South East Queensland is Australia’s jobs powerhouse, as white-collar workers shun Sydney and Melbourne in favour of the region’s laid-back lifestyle and growing opportunities.
More than 312,000 new jobs were created in South East Queensland over the past five years, representing one in five of the national total.
Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals that high-paid white-collar professionals are behind the surge. The number of professional services workers increased to 545,000 in 2025, from 430,000 in 2020, and South East Queensland now employs 14% of the sector’s national workforce.
This is a structural shift in the Australian economy. Skilled professionals are no longer tied to traditional CBD locations. They are choosing regions that offer both opportunity and lifestyle.
For property investors, this trend directly supports increased demand for quality residential housing close to employment hubs, transport corridors and lifestyle amenities.
How Has Remote Work Changed Where Australians Live and Invest?
The ability for people to work remotely meant that workers who would have gravitated to Sydney or Melbourne are now able to stay in the region.
KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said South East Queensland was reversing the brain drain.
“The ability to dial in from anywhere has allowed people to build their careers in South East Queensland,” he said.
“Many regions of Australia saw jobs and population booms during the pandemic as lockdown affected workers in Sydney and Melbourne, who left those cities.”
“Unlike other regions, SEQ has been able to ride its boom into the 2032 Olympics, which will continue to provide more opportunities for high-skilled jobs.”
This ongoing transformation has important implications for property investment. When professionals relocate permanently rather than temporarily, housing demand becomes sustained rather than short-lived. That supports rental yields and long-term growth potential.
How Strong Is Employment Growth Compared to the National Average?
South East Queensland’s 3.3% employment growth over the past five years has significantly outpaced the 2.1% national average.
That difference may appear small at first glance, but over time it represents thousands of additional jobs, households, and renters entering the market.
Consistent employment growth above the national average is a key indicator used in property investment research. It shows economic resilience and signals ongoing demand for housing.
What Role Has Government Employment Played?
Some 8000 new federal government workers were employed in the past five years.
The 57% increase in Commonwealth workers is higher than increases of 32% in Sydney, 41% in Melbourne and 24% in Canberra.
Government employment adds stability to the region. Public sector roles typically offer reliable income and long-term employment security. For investors targeting positive cash flow investment properties, this stability can translate into dependable tenants and lower vacancy risks.
Will the Jobs Boom Continue?
KPMG predicts the region’s jobs boom will continue through to the end of the decade, with 275,000 more jobs set to be created by 2030.
Business activity supports this outlook. There were 9225 medium-sized businesses employing between 20 and 199 staff starting or relocating to the south east in 2023 to 2024, up from 8328 the year before.
The number of businesses turning over more than $2m grew by 8.3 per cent in 2023 to 2024.
KPMG Brisbane Mid Market Partner Stephen Abbott said the region’s growing infrastructure and highly skilled workforce made it attractive to businesses and workers.
“Once you overlay the lifestyle, it’s a pretty good recipe for a range of different people,” he said.
Infrastructure expansion is already translating into real business growth. Civil infrastructure company Dormway, which designs and builds pipelines for Queensland’s water providers, has doubled its headcount in the past 18 months.
Strategic Operations Manager Sarrah Busby said the growth of the region gave the company the confidence to hire more engineers and project managers.
“We need to make sure the work is there to support those roles, and with the population growth and the infrastructure, it’s enabled us to take on those longer-term projects.”
This type of corporate confidence reinforces long-term economic momentum.
Why Does Job Growth Matter So Much for Property Investment?
Employment growth drives:
- Population growth
- Household formation
- Rental demand
- Consumer spending
- Infrastructure investment
When more than 312,000 jobs are created in a region within 5 years, that translates into tens of thousands of additional tenants and home buyers.
For investors focused on property investment strategies that prioritise income, regions experiencing sustained jobs growth often provide stronger rental yields and tighter vacancy rates.
South East Queensland’s combination of white-collar job growth, government expansion, business relocation and Olympic infrastructure spending creates a powerful foundation for positive cash flow investment properties.
How Does Positive Income Properties Help Investors Capitalise on This Growth?
At Positive Income Properties, our company specialises in the research and provision of quality pre-packaged residential properties located in key areas where growth and rental yield potential are evident.
We do not rely on speculation. We assess employment growth, infrastructure pipelines, population forecasts and rental market performance to identify high-potential locations.
Our clients gain access to more than 1600 positive cash flow investment properties. Many use our services time and time again to create positive cash flow for their investment portfolios.
By aligning property investment decisions with real economic data, such as the South East Queensland jobs boom, investors can position themselves in markets supported by:
- Strong white-collar employment growth
- Expanding government workforce numbers
- Business relocation trends
- Infrastructure upgrades linked to the 2032 Olympics
- Above average employment growth rates
Is South East Queensland the Smart Move for Property Investment in 2026?
South East Queensland is no longer emerging. It is established as a national growth leader.
For investors seeking positive cash flow investment properties backed by economic momentum, South East Queensland presents a compelling opportunity.
At Positive Income Properties, we help investors turn data-driven insights into practical property investment outcomes. In a market where employment growth is outpacing Sydney and Melbourne, aligning your portfolio with this shift could make a meaningful difference to your long-term returns. To explore investment opportunities, contact us at +61 468 037 484 or bookings@positiveincome.com.au.
Gil Elliott is the Managing Director and Founder of Positive Income Properties. Gil has a rich background in business consulting and property investment. All of these he gained in his nearly four decades of experience in the real estate and marketing industries.
