The NSW government will base more senior government roles in regional areas as part of a drive to boost high skilled job opportunities in the bush by 2023.

The initiative is included in the government’s new Regional Workforce Principles announced by Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Wednesday.

It means NSW public sector roles will be advertised from any location with ‘regional location encouraged’ Mr Barilaro said.

He said the policy would suit people who already live regionally as well as those looking for a tree change.

“One thing we have learned in the past year is that you don’t need to be tethered to a desk in Sydney CBD to do a variety of jobs,” he said in a statement.

“These principles will help to create a more flexible sector, taking more of the decision making out of Sydney and ensuring a greater geographical spread of staff living in regional communities.”

The Department of Regional NSW has established working hubs in Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Queanbeyan in the past six months, Mr Barilaro said, and it would soon begin helping agencies grow their workforces in regional parts of the state.