Border open both ways in job hunt
EMPLOYERS are poised to pay higher salaries, increase paid leave, upgrade job titles and loosen job requirements as Australia’s international borders open on Monday and the war for talent heats up.
A survey by recruiters Robert Half suggests more than 70 per cent of local businesses plan to hire international employees on a permanent basis, 61 per cent will hire them on contract, and 68 per cent will hire internationals to work remotely in their own countries.
More than half of the companies are prepared to offer above normal pay and condiand
tions to attract international people in a period of severe skills shortages around the globe.
But employers are likely to face an exodus of Australians as the “brain drain” resumes young workers head offshore after two years stuck in Australia.
David Jones, senior managing director of Robert Half, said the labour market was so competitive – especially in technology – that companies would have to finetune their attraction and retention strategies, including their relocation packages.
But he warned: “While international skilled migration will help mitigate skills shortages, we will also start to see talent leave Australia again as border restrictions ease around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The survey of 300 employers was conducted late last year and identified shortages in IT security/cybersecurity with 63 per cent of employers saying they need staff; IT management (46 per cent); infrastructure and engineering (42 per cent); technical support and operations (41 per cent); and data/database management (35 per cent).
Mr Jones said competitive salaries were important but companies also needed to look at the motivations behind why professionals choose to relocate.
He said even with international migration resuming, it would take several years to overcome the shortages and companies had to “strengthen internal talent pipelines”.