eFinancialCareers

The number of people planning to leave England has doubled in the past three years, and Australia is high on their list.

The number of people planning to leave England has doubled in the past three years, and Australia is high on their list.

13 per cent of Brits surveyed by research company ICM said they wanted to leave “in the near future”, up from 7 per cent in 2003, and a similar percentage they wanted to go abroad for a new job.

The Times reports that 40% of people surveyed hankered after a home in Australia. This may be good news for the country’s financial services industry at a time when Australian firms are struggle to fill staff gaps through traditional routes and are hoping to lure professionals from elsewhere.

Andrew Chancellor director of the UK banking division at recruitment firm Robert Walters says London-based candidates are especially sought after and are viewed on an international scale as ‘cutting edge’.

But where does this leave the UK financial sector, which is suffering its own skill shortages? Chancellor suggests that when it comes to sourcing talent, firms are engaging in an international game of tug of war.

“We are increasingly seeing our clients looking at overseas markets to source accountants to fill the supply gaps in the UK – overseas seminars, roadshows and recruitment campaigns are becoming more and more common. The supply shortage is a global issue and the UK & Ireland is being targeted by international businesses looking to attract UK talent overseas, particularly to Asia and Australasia.”