Melbourne and Sydney: Do you think they're becoming one in the same job market?

Many candidates in either Sydney or Melbourne will shift seamlessly between the cities if a promotion and/or better pay is on the cards, say recruiters.

Moving has become more common since the GFC, comments Andrew Brushfield, director, Victoria and New Zealand, Robert Half International. "Depending on the candidate and their circumstances, if you're on $70k in Melbourne and offered $85k in Sydney, you'll go."

Sharmini Thomas, director, financial services, Michael Page International, adds: "If it's a niche or specialist role or they're coming from a competitor, and its north of $120k, they'll look at shifting cities."

Another recruiter agrees that candidates can be sourced from either Sydney or Melbourne but says employers tend to look to their home city first. "More senior executives earning above $200k are happy to commute between Sydney and Melbourne," says Andrew McKissock, manager, wealth management division, Porterallen.

"They'll work in Sydney during the week and fly home to Melbourne to be with the family and vice versa," he adds.

Scott Stacey, managing director, Marks Sattin Australia, says candidates, particularly senior managers, will work in either city if the right role presents itself, on either a live-in or fly-in/fly-out basis.

"If you live in Melbourne and work for the NAB or ANZ, but want to move to an i-bank, then shifting to Sydney becomes an option," he adds.

Melbourne-based Stacey says people shift between Sydney and Melbourne primarily for lifestyle reasons. "I don't think there has been a level of desperation for people to move because they have to."

What are you thoughts on inter city moves? Let us know below.