Housing affordability, central city economic productivity and the lower income labour market

The objective of this research was to establish whether the diminishing supply of affordable housing options for lower income (LI) workers near job-rich central city (CC) locations is having an impact on CC businesses and on the overall productivity of CC economies. The findings of the specific research questions are summarised here. The research comprised a review of census and other data as to the housing market position of the LICC labour force in five of Australia's key metropolitan areas (metros)-Perth, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane-as well as a series of interviews with employers in Sydney's CC and an analysis of the demand profile on recent infill development in the City of Sydney council area