The UK's jobs recovery has been based almost entirely in London, according to a new report.
Since the start of the recession, 80% of all new private sector jobs have been created in the capital and thousands have been forced to move there from around the country, says the Centre for Cities.
Those in their twenties are most likely to move, while some in their thirties move out of London to start families, but usually only to the south-east.
In the years 2010-12, London created ten times as many jobs as any other UK city and also saw public sector employment rise, bucking the wider UK trend.
Many other cities, including Glasgow, Blackpool, Southampton, Bristol, Sheffield and Bradford, saw shrinkage in both private and public sector jobs as the government's austerity programme bit.
Alexandra Jones, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said:
"Cities Outlook 2014 shows that the gap between London and other UK cities is widening and we are failing to make the most of cities' economic potential."
A major problem for those moving south or east is the cost of housing.
According to listings site Gumtree, the average month's rent in London is £1,516 for a private property compared to £665 for the rest of the UK.
This huge jump prevents people moving for work, and traps unemployed people in areas with fewer jobs.