G-P’s 2024 World at Work Report reveals Australia’s talent crunch driving leaders to prioritise skills-based hiring above traditional qualifications

G-P (Globalization Partners), the recognised leader in global employment, today announced that more than half (57%) of Australian workers anticipate hitting the job market in the next six months, according to the results of a new survey. Additionally, more than a third (36%) are considering moving to a different region or state to support their career.

The survey further revealed a strong preference among Australians to work for global companies. Eight out of 10 (84%) want to work for a global company - up from 79% last year and surpassing the global average of 80%. While most employees view international experience as a key factor for career advancement, challenges such as managing time zone differences, navigating language and cultural barriers, and dealing with complex tax regulations remain significant concerns.

The launch of World at Work: The Future of Global Employment Report, G-P’s second annual report on global employment trends, also highlights recruitment challenges for Australian employers. Hiring skilled talent within their current markets remains extremely difficult for nearly half (47%) of Australian executives - a notable increase from just over a third (34%) in 2023. To address this, a growing number of business leaders (86%) are now hiring employees from other countries - up from 82% last year - and nearly half (46%) say they’ll consider hiring candidates with a non-traditional background or education to meet their talent needs.

“There’s never been a better time to build a global team,” said Nicole Sahin, founder and CEO of G-P. “At G-P, we’re at the forefront of the intersection of global employment and AI, empowering leaders to build agile workforces and transforming how companies leverage human potential from around the world.”

Charles Ferguson, APMEA General Manager, G-P, added: "Australian employees are increasingly drawn to global companies, mainly due to the appeal of better pay, enhanced benefits, travel opportunities, and greater flexibility. At the same time, employees now expect more from leaders, particularly in the skills needed to successfully manage global teams.”

Almost all (97%) of Australian executives agree that the ability to establish a market presence in multiple countries around the world, including access to new talent, is essential for remaining competitive in today's business landscape. The survey results further highlighted strong interest in leveraging AI for global expansion, with over half (53%) of Australian executives saying AI can help with predicting business challenges in new markets. While the vast majority of employees (90%) are also excited about potential uses for AI, some (34%) remain hesitant to use it at work out of concern their manager would place less value on their work - down from 41% last year.

Download the G-P World at Work Report here to learn more about the opportunities of global employment and how to get ahead in this new era of work.

Methodology

The G-P survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 2,000 Executives, (VP+ at companies of 500 or more employees) in three markets: the U.S., the U.K. and Australia; and 4,000 Employed Professionals in six markets: the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Singapore and Australia.

About G-P

G-P is the recognized leader in global employment, delivering everything companies of all sizes need to quickly and compliantly build and manage global teams in 180+ countries, regardless of entity status. G-P’s industry-leading SaaS-based Employer of Record (EOR), Contractor and Advisor products are backed by more than a decade of experience, the largest team of in-country HR, legal, and compliance experts, and insights from its proprietary generative AI knowledge base.

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