Last updated on October 30th, 2023 at 04:34 pm

THE number of people willing to work overseas has more than doubled in the past five years — and Australia is the third most popular location for professionals who want to relocate.

Sydney came just after London and New York in the list of favoured cities, according to a report by a leading recruitment company.

An increasingly international jobs market, along with the global financial crisis, has changed the working landscape for many professionals.

More than a third are now interested in pursuing their careers in a new country, compared with just 16 per cent in 2010.

And moving abroad is now more accessible for junior employees as well as top executives, with only 17 per cent of those working abroad having a qualification above a degree, compared with 30 per cent in 2010.

Younger professionals are particularly attracted to the idyllic Australian lifestyle, with more than a third choosing the country as their preferred destination.

Workers in the technology industry are most likely to move Down Under, with 19 per cent coming from the sector as Australia experiences rapid growth in this area.

The next most common fields were the oil and gas and life sciences industries respectively.

The Global Professionals on the Move Report was compiled by recruiter Hydrogen Group and business school ESCP Europe after interviews with 2444 individuals across a range of industries and from nearly 100 countries.

Hydrogen Group COO Simon Walker said: “The findings of this report show that we now have a worldwide talent pool.

“Despite the fact that geographic and cultural boundaries as an impediment to hiring have dropped away during the recession, there is still a clear leaning towards English-speaking and safe countries like Australia and cosmopolitan cities like Sydney by candidates.”

Fewer people now see barriers to working overseas, with 40 per cent saying they could not think of any, while everyone surveyed in 2010 cited some obstacles.

Only 24 per cent thought family would be an impediment to relocation, compared with 40 per cent in 2010.

Most said their employers saw international experience as a bonus, at 71 per cent compared with 63 per cent in 2010.

However, the number who had experienced direct progression from their relocation was still relatively low, up from 16 to 25 per cent.

It would suggest that job advancement should not be the primary motivation in relocating.

Yet those who have worked overseas remain keen for more, with almost half saying they were likely to move on to a new country rather than return home, compared to 38 per cent five years ago.

© The Australian

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