Survey reveals opportunity to target ex-pats

A new snapshot of offshore Kiwi sentiment highlights necessity for New Zealand businesses to up their recruitment game.

It’s no secret that New Zealand has long standing skill shortages in technology, healthcare and the services sector. New data released today in Kea’s ‘Changing Trends’ survey, reveals that 54.8 percent of offshore Kiwi work in these sectors, and these professionals make up more than half of those Kiwi planning to return to New Zealand.

This creates an enormous opportunity for Kiwi businesses. However, the talent landscape has changed dramatically in recent years and Kea CEO Toni Truslove says New Zealand businesses must adapt to meet current and future talent needs.

“New Zealand based candidates are no longer simply choosing between New Zealand-based roles. They are involved in global recruitment processes with companies that have sophisticated candidate experience programmes in place, with remote working at their heart.”

“While this increases the pressure on recruitment for Kiwi companies, it also provides a significant opportunity for them to compete in the global talent market, attracting candidates in other countries to work remotely for New Zealand based businesses.

“Our offshore Kiwi community are attuned to Kiwi culture and our ways of doing business already, and today’s data shows that this valuable group not only wish to be engaged, but they are willing to advise Kiwi companies on evolving international best practice.”

When it comes to talent attraction, survey data reveals that flexible working policies and the ability to work remotely are two of the biggest selling points for employees searching for future roles.

Seventy-two percent of respondents say they will seek out employers with flexible working policies.

Alongside the significant opportunity for globally remote Kiwi workers, Toni says for industries such as healthcare and services which require boots on the ground, there remains a positive outlook with strong numbers of Kiwi returning home.

“Our survey data shows 35.4 percent of all respondents want to be made aware of international or domestic opportunities with Kiwi businesses. For those remaining offshore, almost a quarter say the right job would provide the catalyst to return home. These returning Kiwi will still have expectations around international best practices when it comes to benefits packages so it’s in every Kiwi business’s best interest to update and strengthen practices.”

“We have the data and the learnings and we have a valuable group of candidates, now it’s time for businesses to act.”

Kea’s full report “Talent for the taking – How to globalise your recruitment strategies” offers up insights from Kiwis around the world on their experiences of the global talent market and what is going to set Kiwi businesses apart in this world of remote working.

This report is available to purchase here.