A new report by payroll and HR services company ADP has revealed that 45 per cent of Australian workers either want to relocate within Australia, or are already in the process of doing so, while 40 per cent were planning or in the process of moving overseas.
The People at Work: A Global Workforce View survey attributed these increased figures to the increased living costs, inaccessible housing markets, and the rise and acceptance of remote working as an option for work engagement.
Exposure to working from home was an important influence on whether people wanted to relocate, with those who worked from home (58 per cent) being almost three times more likely than those who were not (20 per cent) to explore a change in envorionment.
“The last few years have given some employees the confidence that remote work is viable for them. This has opened up a plethora of opportunities to relocate and pursue a better quality of life, affordable housing, and new job opportunities,” said Kylie Baullo, Managing Director ANZ at ADP. “The pandemic changed workers’ expectations and we are seeing an increased need for employers to provide a better work-life balance to retain and attract top talent.”
The desire to relocate was strongest for 18-24 year olds, with 60 per cent looking for a change in scenery. Meanwhile only 28 per cent of 45-54 year olds felt the same. In addition, men (55 per cent) were more likely to be motivated to move than women (36 per cent).
“This dispersed workforce creates a win-win for employees and employers,” adds Baullo. “The high cost of living in major cities has made rural and regional areas more appealing, especially to younger workers.”
“Employers can access a greater talent pool in opening up new geographies to source grass-roots talent from,” she added.
The research also found that 54 per cnet of 18-24 year olds and nearly 65 per cent of 25-34 year olds would consider looking for another job if their employer insisted on a full-time return to the workplace, compared to 46 per cent of the 45-54 age bracket and 27 per cent of the 55 and over demographic. The report noted a strong correlation between the desire to relocate and the demand for flexible working models amongst the younger age bracket.
However, with office occupancy now at its highest level since the pandemic began in Australia, potentially driven by less-accommodating work-from-home policies, ADP has suggested that employers need to be best prepared for a hybrid workplace.
“With flexible working here to stay, employers should instead look to embrace and plan for a dispersed workforce,” says Mrs Baullo. “Businesses should look to offer remote work options. With the potential for multiple employees moving at any given time, and the variety of payment conditions that can occur in different locations – both domestically and overseas, working with a payroll expert to manage smooth transitions is important. ” concluded Baullo.
