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‘Untapped talent pool’: Bosses overlooking these Aussies are missing out

Qualified Australians who have returned from work overseas aren't getting a chance in the workforce. (Source: Getty)
Qualified Australians who have returned from work overseas aren't getting a chance in the workforce. (Source: Getty)

There are a group of job-hunting Aussies who are qualified for the job, but are getting overlooked – and it’s costing Australia.

A third of expats who have recently returned home are being ignored – even though their skills match the job requirements precisely – by employers who are concerned that these workers don’t have strong enough Australian business networks.

But employers and recruiters who do so are shortchanging themselves and missing out on “an untapped pool of returning workers whose skills and experiences could positively impact their company,” according to research released today by Indeed and Advance.

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According to the They Still Call Australia Home report, seven in 10 respondents acknowledged they had a positive experience of hiring a returned expat, and 57 per cent of recruiters said recruiting expats had a long-term strategic benefit.

Aussie expats struggle to get a job – despite being qualified

It takes those who have recently returned home 2.1 months longer than the average jobseeker to lock down a role, the report said.

Nearly four in five (78 per cent) recently returned expats say it’s more difficult to get a job in Australia than expected, despite gaining useful skills and experience working overseas.

Expats who return to Australia come back with sharpened skills in managing culturally diverse staff, managing international stakeholders, greater exposure to varied international legal and regulatory requirements, management of internationally based staff, complex project management, and more.

(Source: They Still Call Australia Home report: Indeed and Advance)
(Source: They Still Call Australia Home report: Indeed and Advance)

Additionally, some industries are more hostile than others to Australians who have come home.

(Source: They Still Call Australia Home report: Indeed and Advance)
(Source: They Still Call Australia Home report: Indeed and Advance)

Missed opportunities for employers – and for Australia

“These skilled workers present a significant opportunity for recruiters and businesses,” said Indeed senior vice president of marketing Paul D’Arcy.

“We know diverse workforces are more successful than homogeneous ones, which is why employers and recruiters are missing out on an untapped pool of returning workers whose skills and experiences could positively impact their company.”

“Businesses would do well to abandon any preconceived ideas they have about what a candidate needs to handle a job and adopt policies that make the hiring process more objective,” D’Arcy added.

On top of that, ignoring an “untapped talent pool” has implications for Australia’s economy more broadly, too.

“As a country, we derive value and benefits from encouraging our expats to remain connected with Australia and to come home to share their experience and bring their intellectual property with them,” said Advance chairman Yasmin Allen.

“This in turn fuels innovation and benefits the entire nation economically.”

Returning expats should stay on top of any changes in their home country in their absence, Allen said.

“Events might have taken place that have shaped Australia that may have eluded them, and they may have achieved a level of seniority that does not exist here.”

The inaugural Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit will be held on the 26th of September 2019 in the Shangri-La, Sydney. Check out the full line-up of speakers and agenda for this groundbreaking event here and buy tickets here.

The inaugural Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit will launch on September 26 in Sydney's Shangri-La.
The inaugural Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit will launch on September 26 in Sydney's Shangri-La.