Most workers would prefer to live up north but say they stay down south for the sake of their career, a new survey reveals.
Research from employment law firm Peninsula shows that 63% of employees would move to the north if job opportunities were not so limited.
Nearly three quarters say the south is the best place for them to advance their career. A further two-thirds say they believe southern England offers them a better quality of life.
But while the north-south divide still exists, Peninsula suggests there is a silver lining in its findings.
Regeneration works and the movement of some businesses back into northern towns helping boost the region's image, it argues.
"The general view is still that the south-east, in particular, is the place to be in the UK for career opportunities but the 'grim up north' perception amongst southerners is receding," said Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula.
"In Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, in particular, the north has vibrant, diverse financial centres with a level of friendliness and intensity that is a refreshing change from London. In conjunction with perceived lower living costs and house prices, this has made the north more appealing."
Specifically, Done cited the BBC's decision to relocate departments and staff to Manchester as a sign of the changing attitudes toward doing business in the north.
If opportunities are there, he said, employers and their staff are willing to make the move.
