Three-quarters of Australians are willing to uproot and move across the world for the right job, the Kelly Global Workforce Index survey has found.
“With the globalisation of the talent market, there is a growing realisation that many individuals may decide to relocate for work rather than simply hope that the work will come to them,” says Karen Colfer, managing director of Kelly Services Australia.
“Many skills that were once specific to a region or country are now able to be carried out in various parts of the globe, which means job mobility becomes important for career advancement,” she said.
The findings were most pronounced among Gen Y workers (aged 18-29), who were more willing to travel than their Gen X and baby boomer colleagues. Men were also more willing to relocate than women, with family and friends cited as the primary reason 58 percent of respondents wouldn’t relocate.
But flexibility wasn’t unconditional, with the proposed destination playing a large role in a worker’s willingness to move. Europe was the most desirable destination for employment for 37 percent of respondents, ahead of Asia Pacific and North America at 16 and 15 percent respectively. The Middle East only attracted four percent, South America two percent and Africa two percent.
The survey also found one in four Australians are working in unusual job arrangements, including long hours or unconventional hours, multiple jobs, living away from home or regular travel. Colfer puts the trend down to strong competition in the job market. “Long periods of unconventional work arrangements are becoming increasingly necessary for Australians as they work to reach career goals.”
While Australians are willing to bend over backwards for the right job, many recognise that unconventional working arrangements aren’t sustainable. Only 40 percent of workers willing to move wanted to stay for more than three years. Similarly, half of those working with unusual job arrangements said they could only sustain the lifestyle for one year or less.
The Kelly Global Workforce Index is based on the survey responses of 97,000 people in 30 countries, including 4,500 in Australia. The research was conducted between October 2010 and January 2011.