Work on infrastructure projects such as the Pacific Highway as well as the growth in housing construction, tourism, hospitality and the health sector boom have been attractive to those in seeking employment in the region. 

According to the 2011 Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast report the population of those aged 20-29 was 8.29 per cent at the time. 

However RDA Mid North Coast spokesperson Justyn Walker said one thing that has changed since 2011 is the development of the Charles Sturt University and the University of New South Wales medical school which gives young people study options without moving away.

“You’d logically expect this to have a positive impact on that school leaver age bracket,” he said. 

Mrs Williams said the high price of housing in Sydney is driving more people to regional areas.

“Just last week we had a young man in my office who specifically moved to Port Macquarie because housing was affordable and he had secured a new job in his chosen career in the local area,” she said.  

Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker said he believes that the housing boom in Sydney has been slower to translate to housing prices on the Mid North Coast. 

“It should give confidence to anyone thinking of moving into the market by virtue of the strong growth that’s there,” he said. 

Cheaper housing he said does give young people the opportunity to enter the market but it needs to be accompanied by employment opportunities. 

Mr Hartsuyker said that Port Macquarie has become a mini city. 

“You see Port as one of the fastest growing areas on the north coast which is really exciting, with lots of housing in the pipeline,” he said. 

Many people, Mr Hartsuyker said view the Mid North Coast region as a retirement area but he believes it is much broader than that, with growth in the economy and employment. 

“There is the prospect of having a real rewarding career on the Mid North Coast,” he said. 

He has credited the rise of technology with enabling those in the region to work from home, rather than having to commute to other areas. 

Mr Walker said there is still a need to create more jobs, particularly entry level skilled jobs like and apprenticeships to increase the population of those who fall in the age bracket of 20 to 29-years-old.

“We would certainly hope to see this over time and it’s an area RDA and many others are promoting,” he said. 

Mr Walker said youth unemployment in the region is extremely high and the 2016 Brotherhood of St Laurence report  put the Mid North Coast region as the sixth highest youth unemployment hot spot in the country.

The census which was conducted in 2016 will give a record of whether the age bracket of those who are 20-29 and living in the region has increased.