Demographics Decoded - Unveiling the trends shaping your future

For twenty years, the story of Australian housing was apartments. Cranes over the CBD, young professionals in one-bedroom towers, cafes on every corner.    Today, that story is quietly ending, and almost nobody in property or planning has caught up with it yet.   The generation that built the apartment boom is now the generation walking away from it, and where they go next is going to reshape entire suburbs.   Australia's largest generation is entering a new stage of life, and that is going to change what millions of people want from their homes.   In this episode Simon Kuestenmacher and I explain how Australia's largest generation is reshaping housing demand.   By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly which property types are about to come into serious demand, and which ones risk being left behind.   We explore why millennials are moving from inner-city apartments towards larger homes with bedrooms, storage, outdoor space and room for hybrid work.   We discuss how the "Millennial Mountain" is influencing consumer behaviour, family formation, property preferences and future urban development.   We examine why Australia's missing middle remains difficult to deliver, despite growing demand for townhouses, duplexes and medium-density housing.   We consider what demographic change, intergenerational wealth transfers and shifting suburb preferences could mean for property investors over the coming decades.   Takeaways    • Millennials are reshaping demand for family-sized housing • Hybrid work increases demand for additional bedrooms • Family formation is reducing apartment-only preferences • Quality apartments still require practical family layouts • Inner-city apartments may become increasingly commoditised • Australia struggles to deliver medium-density housing • Urban fringe development remains cheaper than infill • Demographics influence spending throughout people's lives • Parental wealth increasingly affects home ownership access • Middle suburbs may face future density pressure   Chapters   • 02:42 - How big the millennial generation actually is • 05:47 - The millennial mountain and the pig in the python • 08:38 - Why apartments stop working once the kids arrive • 17:53 - The missing middle and why cities can't be retrofitted • 29:38 - What our cities will look like by 2046   About Simon Kuestenmacher   Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group.   Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.     He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.   Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others.     About Michael Yardney   Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders.   While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia's leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.   Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.   Follow Michael on LinkedIn or Instagram   Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth - producing results.   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast,  Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.   About Demographics Decoded   Demographics drive economic performance, workforce participation and long-term prosperity.   Demographics Decoded explores: • Workforce participation trends in Australia • Labour shortages and skills gaps • Productivity and economic growth • Urbanisation and employment hubs • Small business and demographic demand • The future of work in Australia • Education, skills and economic mobility • Regional economic development   If you're a business owner, investor or decision maker who wants to anticipate structural change rather than react to headlines, this podcast gives you the demographic intelligence to stay ahead.   Explore more insights at:https://demographicsdecoded.com.au

Australians just completed the 2026 Census, the largest and most important statistical exercise conducted in this country which provide a snapshot of who we are, where we live, how we work, what our households look like and how our society is changing.   Of course, Census results are more than a collection of interesting facts. They influence where governments build schools, hospitals and roads, where businesses invest and, for property investors, where future housing demand is likely to emerge.   In today's episode Simon Kuestenmacher  and I use the Census as an opportunity to look back at how Australia has changed since 1981, when our population was only 14.5 million.   We examine how Australia has nearly doubled its population since 1981 while continuing to concentrate growth in its established cities.   We explore how smaller households, later family formation and an ageing population are reshaping housing demand and property markets.   We discuss the nation's changing migration patterns, increasing cultural diversity and the shift away from traditional religious affiliations.   We consider what Australia's projected growth towards 40 million people could mean for infrastructure, housing affordability, city planning and future investment decisions.   Takeaways    • Australia's population growth has intensified pressure on established cities • Population growth without new cities has increased land values • Smaller households require more dwellings across Australia • Later family formation is reshaping housing preferences • An ageing population will influence future housing demand • Baby boomers may eventually release established homes • Migration patterns are becoming increasingly Asian • Cultural diversity is changing neighbourhood preferences • Knowledge work is replacing traditional manufacturing employment • Future growth requires better long-term infrastructure planning   Chapters   • 01:46 - How the 2026 census was run and why it still matters • 08:33 - Doubling the population without building new cities • 13:34 - Migration and how multicultural Australia became • 17:33 - An older country with smaller, changing households • 32:10 - From factory floors to knowledge work — and 2066   About Simon Kuestenmacher   Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group.   Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.     He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.   Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others. https://www.tdgp.com.au/enquire     About Michael Yardney   Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders.   While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia's leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.   Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.   Follow Michael on LinkedIn or Instagram.   Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth - producing results.   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast,  Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.   About Demographics Decoded   Demographics drive economic performance, workforce participation and long-term prosperity.   Demographics Decoded explores: • Workforce participation trends in Australia • Labour shortages and skills gaps • Productivity and economic growth • Urbanisation and employment hubs • Small business and demographic demand • The future of work in Australia • Education, skills and economic mobility • Regional economic development   If you're a business owner, investor or decision maker who wants to anticipate structural change rather than react to headlines, this podcast gives you the demographic intelligence to stay ahead.   Explore more insights at:https://demographicsdecoded.com.au

You're told inflation is running at around three per cent a year, yet when you look at your mortgage repayments, your rent, your electricity bill and your council rates, none of it feels like three per cent, does it?   That's because it isn't. Analysis we're going to unpack today shows housing costs have been climbing at roughly four per cent a year since the year 2000, and some parts of that bill, like electricity and gas, have more than quadrupled.   Now, just to be clear, I'm not talking about the cost of residential real estate – we know that has gone up significantly more doubling every 10 years or so. But today we're talking about the costs everyday Australian consumers spend on their living and housing and keeping a roof over their heads.   And here's the part that's going to surprise a lot of you. The biggest culprits behind those rising costs aren't investors, they aren't developers, and they aren't even overseas events. In large part, they're governments, at every single level, federal, state and local.   In this episode I speak with Simon Kuestenmacher about why the cost of living feels very different from the headline inflation number and by the end of this show, you'll understand exactly which housing costs have outpaced everything else, why renters may actually be carrying more of this burden than anyone realises, why blaming property investors for the housing crisis misses the real story completely, and what would actually need to change for Australia to get affordability back under control.   We unpack how housing, utilities, and everyday expenses have outpaced CPI for decades.   We look at how electricity and gas have surged far faster than wages and official inflation measures.   We discuss why renters, mortgage holders, and outright owners experience the same economy in very different ways.   We explain how government policy, taxation, and planning decisions have quietly shaped Australia's housing affordability crisis.   Takeaways    • Housing costs have compounded faster than CPI, creating a long-term affordability gap. • Electricity and gas bills have outpaced incomes, squeezing household budgets across Australia. • CPI understates housing pain because home prices and mortgage stress aren't fully captured. • Renters feel inflation more sharply because rising housing costs hit their disposable income hardest. • Property taxes and compliance charges flow through to buyers, renters, and developers alike. • Higher state taxes can reduce investor supply, which tightens rental availability and lifts rents. • Federal migration policy affects housing demand when population growth outruns new supply. • Low interest rates boosted borrowing power and helped inflate property prices sharply. • Construction productivity declines make each new dwelling more expensive to deliver. • Prefab housing and alternative building methods may lower entry costs for future buyers.   About Simon Kuestenmacher   Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group.   Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.     He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.   Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others. https://www.tdgp.com.au/enquire     About Michael Yardney   Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders.   While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia's leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.   Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.   Follow Michael on LinkedIn or Instagram   Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth - producing results.   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast,  Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.   About Demographics Decoded   Demographics drive economic performance, workforce participation and long-term prosperity.   Demographics Decoded explores: • Workforce participation trends in Australia • Labour shortages and skills gaps • Productivity and economic growth • Urbanisation and employment hubs • Small business and demographic demand • The future of work in Australia • Education, skills and economic mobility • Regional economic development   If you're a business owner, investor or decision maker who wants to anticipate structural change rather than react to headlines, this podcast gives you the demographic intelligence to stay ahead.   Explore more insights at:https://demographicsdecoded.com.au

Have you noticed people seem shorter-tempered lately?   The bloke who snaps at you in the supermarket queue. The relative who tears strips off a nurse in a hospital waiting room. The parent screaming at a teenage umpire at a junior footy match.   You're not imagining it. Nearly nine in ten retail workers in Australia were verbally abused in the last year. Principals are being threatened at nearly double the rate they were in 2011. And nurses are copping violence and aggression on the job at record levels.   But here's the twist - Australia isn't actually becoming more violent. Assault rates have been falling for over a decade. So what's really going on, and more importantly, what's driving it?   In this episode, Simon Kuestenmacher talks about why Australia feels angrier, even as physical violence keeps falling.   By the end of today's show you'll understand exactly why Australians are getting angrier without getting more violent, what role your smartphone and social media are playing in rewiring how we treat each other, and why financial pressure and cost of living stress might be the biggest hidden driver of all.   And for those of us in business or dealing with clients and tenants, there's a real lesson in here about who cops the anger and why.   We unpack how online outrage, social media algorithms, and financial stress are reshaping everyday behaviour.   We look at how frontline workers in retail, health, education, and transport are copping more abuse.   We discuss why young people are especially exposed to cyberbullying and online hate.   We finish by exploring what businesses and governments can do to reduce frustration and protect staff.   Takeaways    • Social media rewards outrage, making angry content spread faster than calm commentary. • Online anonymity lowers inhibition, so people express hostility they would never voice face-to-face. • Frontline workers absorb frustration from systems they did not create or control. • Cost of living pressure shortens patience, especially for people worried about bills or rent. • Cyberbullying hits children hard because abuse lands during their most formative years. • School principals face rising threats because family anger increasingly spills into education settings. • Women are overrepresented among abused frontline staff because they dominate caring and service roles. • Self-checkouts and chatbots often intensify frustration by delaying human support when customers are already upset. • Physical assault rates have fallen, showing anger is growing without a matching rise in violence. • Fairer systems and easier access to real people can reduce resentment before it escalates.   About Simon Kuestenmacher   Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group.   Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.     He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.   Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others.     About Michael Yardney   Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders.     While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia's leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.   Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.   Follow Michael on LinkedIn or Instagram.   Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth - producing results. https://metropole.com.au/enquiry/   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast,  Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.   About Demographics Decoded   Demographics drive economic performance, workforce participation and long-term prosperity.   Demographics Decoded explores: • Workforce participation trends in Australia • Labour shortages and skills gaps • Productivity and economic growth • Urbanisation and employment hubs • Small business and demographic demand • The future of work in Australia • Education, skills and economic mobility • Regional economic development   If you're a business owner, investor or decision maker who wants to anticipate structural change rather than react to headlines, this podcast gives you the demographic intelligence to stay ahead.   Explore more insights at:https://demographicsdecoded.com.au

By the time many of today's Gen Z buys their first home, Melbourne will have overtaken Sydney as Australia's biggest city.   Canberra will be bigger than Newcastle. And a sleepy Victorian farming town called Warragul will have more than tripled in size.   If that sounds far fetched, stick around, because today we're unpacking a piece of research that maps out every major Australian city and town all the way to 2050, and some of the findings will completely reshape how you think about where the next wave of property demand is heading.   It's more than just a prediction; it's a trendline built on twenty-five years of hard data by the Demographics Group and today we're going to show you exactly what it means for where you should be investing over the next quarter of a century.   In this episode, Simon Kuestenmacher talks about how Australia's demographic shifts are reshaping our cities and property markets.   We unpack the long-term population patterns that are steering growth toward some areas and away from others.   We explore why lifestyle towns, regional hubs, and major capitals are all facing very different demand pressures.   We look at how intergenerational wealth transfer and ageing baby boomers will influence housing choices and market activity.   We finish by connecting these demographic changes to smarter property decisions for investors and everyday Australians.   Takeaways    • Melbourne's growth trajectory could challenge Sydney's long-held position as Australia's largest city. • Lifestyle-driven migration is lifting demand in coastal towns with strong amenity and liveability. • Regional centres with diverse economies are better placed to sustain long-term population growth. • Single-industry towns face higher risk when their core employer or export market weakens. • Remote work has expanded the appeal of regional living for more Australians. • Baby boomer wealth transfer is likely to reshape housing demand in the coming decades. • The missing middle of housing supply may tighten as older owners downsize slowly. • Infrastructure often lags population growth, creating pressure on transport and services. • Towns with strong economic purpose tend to outperform pure lifestyle destinations. • Demographic forecasting helps investors spot where future demand is most likely to concentrate.   About Simon Kuestenmacher   Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group. https://www.simonkuestenmacher.com/ https://www.tdgp.com.au/   Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.     He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels. https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonkuestenmacher/ https://x.com/simongerman600?lang=en   Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others. https://www.tdgp.com.au/enquire     About Michael Yardney   Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders.     While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia's leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.   Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.   Follow Michael on LinkedIn or Instagram     Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth - producing results.   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast,  Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.   About Demographics Decoded   Demographics drive economic performance, workforce participation and long-term prosperity.   Demographics Decoded explores: • Workforce participation trends in Australia • Labour shortages and skills gaps • Productivity and economic growth • Urbanisation and employment hubs • Small business and demographic demand • The future of work in Australia • Education, skills and economic mobility • Regional economic development   If you're a business owner, investor or decision maker who wants to anticipate structural change rather than react to headlines, this podcast gives you the demographic intelligence to stay ahead.   Explore more insights at:https://demographicsdecoded.com.au