A recent study has shown that Australian employers are increasingly turning to the global market to find skilled talent. However, navigating the diverse range of talent and adhering to international employment regulations can be a complex challenge.

Jenny Truax, Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Safeguard Global, advised in a whitepaper that employers should avoid casting too wide a net when recruiting internationally. Instead, she suggests focusing on just a few key markets at a time, starting with thorough research to better target their search. Safeguard Global’s research highlights that there are currently 40 million digital nomads globally, a trend driven by the rise of remote work over the past few years.

“The flexibility of remote work has opened doors for businesses to access global talent and benefit from a mobile workforce,” according to the whitepaper. “This shift is creating opportunities for both companies and workers in our increasingly interconnected world.”

For businesses looking to tap into these new talent pools, the whitepaper offers insights on developing a global talent strategy. “When searching for software developers, for example, we look into markets with a high concentration of developer talent. Market analysis tools can be incredibly useful for this,” said Truax. She also emphasized the importance of considering the size of the talent pool in each location, cautioning that even skilled talent can be difficult to recruit if it’s in short supply.

Truax further recommended consulting local experts to navigate international hiring, noting the need to understand regional employment laws, customs, and communication preferences. “In some countries, phone calls or emails work best, while in others, platforms like WhatsApp are more commonly used,” she explained.