Despite anecdotal evidence of a COVID‐19 induced decline in the intensity of interstate migration in Australia, population‐level evidence is limited. The recent release of the 2020 wave of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey provides a unique opportunity to robustly assess the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the level, direction, determinants, and reasons for migration in Australia. By applying a series of regression models to individual‐level longitudinal microdata, and measuring migration at a range of spatial scales, this paper shows that COVID‐19 has somewhat accelerated the long‐term decline in the intensity of internal migration—particularly for residential mobility, short‐distance migration, and migration due to employment and involuntary reasons. The socio‐demographic determinants of migration have remained broadly stable, despite a slight increase in the deterring effect of duration of residence and a reduction in the impact of education. Finally, we show that the increase in net migration gains in regional areas is underpinned by a decrease in outflows. Juxtaposing these results with aggregate‐level migration statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics from 2021, we conclude that the effect of COVID‐19 on internal migration to date has been minimal and is likely to be short‐lived. However, it may still be too soon to make a definitive judgement, as shifts in work patterns stemming from the pandemic may further transform the level, direction, and composition of internal migration.

Internal migration, the movement of people between localities and regions within a country, has resulted in a significant redistribution of national populations. Past cross-national studies have been impeded by a lack of data and comparable metrics upon which to base comparisons. This paper examines internal migration in 30 Asian countries utilising a global dataset and a novel suite of measures devised in the IMAGE project. Three aspects of internal migration are explored: overall intensity, age patterns, and spatial impacts. Comparisons reveal that internal migration intensities, while on average lower than in other regions, are highly variable across countries. Migration peaks at earlier ages and is concentrated into a narrower age band than in other parts of the world. Analysis of spatial impacts highlights the contribution of migration to urbanisation, but a comparison of current trends against lifetime migration data also reveals the impact of historical events and government policies on national migration systems. Wide variation in key dimensions of migration among Asian countries reflects a diversity in national circumstances. The way forward lies in further in-depth country studies building on the common analytic framework articulated in this study.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been interest in the migration of city-dwellers to regional areas to escape lockdowns and movement restrictions, yet evidence of a ‘regional renaissance’ in Australia remains anecdotal. This paper aims to quantify the current and future dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic on the levels, patterns and drivers of migration to and from Australian cities and regions. Results show a 7% drop in the rate of migration between Greater Capital City Statistical Areas in 2020 compared to the previous year, with record net gains in regional areas facilitated by a 9% decrease in departures rather than an increase in arrivals from cities. Our forecasts suggest that net gains to regions will slow down after 2022, but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania because of a sustained increase in arrivals. Regional Western Australia and the Northern Territory will continue to record net losses, while net gains to regional Victoria are predicted to be lower than pre-COVID-19 because of an increase in departures. These patterns have important implications for population projections and policies regarding the attraction and retention of internal migrants to Australia's regions.