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New YouGov research commissioned by Airbnb has found Australians are becoming a nation of digital nomads, with working from home fast becoming working from anywhere for those able to do so. The study of 1000 Aussies found almost 80% of full-time workers would consider relocating to work remotely and a quarter (23%) have already used Airbnb to do so.

Whether it’s a stint in Byron or Broome, three quarters (75%) of respondents believed working away from home would improve their work-life balance, with over 70% agreeing it would make them more productive.

The ability to work from anywhere is also a huge driver when considering to take a job – two thirds (64%) of workers in all types of employment (full time and part time) said it would influence them. This was even more of a factor among younger Aussies, with 83% of Gen Z and 76% of Millennials admitting this would impact their future job considerations.

When it comes to how to fund a nomadic lifestyle, almost half (45%) of all Australian full-time workers would consider listing their home on Airbnb to help pay for a workcation with a quarter (25%) keen to up stumps for up to six months. One in three (30%) workers who are able to work from home have already used Airbnb to work from another location.

People are also using Airbnb to ‘try before they tree change’. Over one third of Aussies (36%) would select a rural/ country area to work remotely, with internal Airbnb data showing top trending space types among Australian guests for 2021 include tree houses, barns, yurts and tiny houses. From July to September this year, there has been a 128% increase globally in guest reviews mentioning “relocation”, “relocate”, “remote work” and “trying a new neighbourhood” in comparison to the same timeframe last year.

Almost half (48%) of those surveyed by YouGov said they’d be keen to relocate and work from a coastal area, with destinations including Buderim on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Dunsborough in WA and Port Elliot on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula among Airbnb’s list of trending destinations for stays over 28 days in 2021.

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, said given the pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work, the ‘live anywhere’ movement is expected to be an increasingly important future travel trend for many Australians.

“This research shows that Aussies believe a change of scenery to work remotely comes with big benefits from improving their work-life balance, helping them feel more motivated to making them more productive.

“As work from home becomes work from any home, we’re also seeing guests use Airbnb to test out a new suburb they’ve always wanted to live in, or return to a favourite holiday spot to immerse themselves in the community.

“When it comes to locations Australian digital nomads are flocking to, there’s definitely a big appetite for rural destinations that bring guests closer to nature and the great outdoors. The live anywhere trend is also being reflected in the amenities guests are searching for, with pet friendly listings and fast WiFi highly sought after for those seeking an extended workcation.”