Housing Affordability Issues Faced by Essential Workers in Melbourne and Across Australia

Discover the harsh realities faced by essential workers in Australia’s priciest housing market, Melbourne, as they grapple with a severe housing affordability crisis. A 2023 study conducted for HOPE Housing by researchers at The University of Sydney reveals a staggering escalation of the problem over the past five years. Shockingly, no Local Government Areas in Sydney or Melbourne boast median house prices within reach for early career essential workers, marking a significant departure from 2016 when affordability was still a possibility in some outer suburbs. The study also uncovered a doubling of essential workers in private rentals since 2011, coupled with an alarming increase in overcrowded homes and housing stress.

As essential workers relocate further from inner subregions to combat rising costs, a spatial dislocation between home and work intensifies, potentially impacting worker wellbeing and public service sustainability. ???? Explore our infographic to grasp the magnitude of Melbourne’s essential workers’ housing predicament.

Infographic Insight: Melbourne’s Essential Workers’ Housing Crisis