Most young Vancouver residents would rather leave than live elsewhere in BC
But 87 per cent of those surveyed would stay in the region if money wasn’t an issue
By Emma Crawford Hampel
For Vancouver-area residents under 35, the only place in British Columbia in which they want to live is the Lower Mainland, and most would rather move to another province than live in another part of BC.
According to survey conducted by Insights West for real estate adviser firm Resonance Consultancy, 87 per cent of those asked where they would choose to live if money were no object would choose to stay in the region. Moving outside of British Columbia came in a distant second at 14 per cent, followed by 11 per cent who said they would like to move to the Kelowna and Thompson Okanagan region.
For young residents across the province, 68 per cent said they would choose to live in Greater Vancouver, and 18 per cent said their top choice was in Victoria and other parts of southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. This was followed by Kelowna and Thompson Okanagan at 15 per cent.
Seventy per cent of those surveyed across B.C. said they are likely to move in the next five years, with 76 per cent saying they will be moving within their current regions. As well, 19 per cent say they will likely move to Greater Vancouver, and 38 per cent say they plan to leave the province.
“There is a tremendous challenge ahead for policy-makers and politicians to make Greater Vancouver affordable and welcoming for Millennials who clearly want to live and work in the region,” said Chris Fair, president of Resonance Consultancy, for which Insights West conducted the study.
In order to keep young talent in the province, the government must prioritise the needs of young residents, Fair said.
“Failure to do so, as their sentiment indicates, likely means losing many of them for good.”
This is consistent with a study Insights West released earlier this month that found more than a third of homeowners in Metro Vancouver plan to move outside the area in the next five years.
“The next generation of city builders and business leaders is telling us they want to stay in Greater Vancouver,” Fair said.
“It’s on us to make it happen.”
