Adelaide draws local talent back



A better lifestyle and the chance to be a “big fish in a small pond” is drawing expatriate South Australian workers back to the state.

Young workers who have fled the state to move ahead in their careers are coming home to continue climbing the corporate ladder.

Rather than feeling the need to settle down or move closer to family and have children, young professionals see South Australia as a place where they can spread their career wings while enjoying a better lifestyle.

Adelaide’s “small town” status is providing big opportunities for workers to be part of the city’s imminent growth.

It also allows younger workers to take on senior roles usually occupied by older and more experienced staff or be the “big fish” in the local market.

Stillwell Management Consultants managing director Daryl Stillwell says there has been a continued strong demand this year for expats wanting to come home or at least get their foot in the door by working in another state. His firm earlier this year was fielding 50 calls a week from workers, aged 25 to 35 years, who were “desperate” to move back to South Australia.

He says the overseas employment market has remained as bad – or worsened – since then.

Expats are looking to Australian jobs as being more secure in the world’s uncertain economy, he says.

“Certainly, the problems that are based in Europe generally are making people in the UK, where we have a lot of young Australians working, feel very nervous,” he says.

“We’re certainly getting a lot of inquiries to come back to Australia and certainly Adelaide.

“When people look around and weigh up life in total, considering career and lifestyle opportunity, Adelaide still features pretty positively.”

Mr Stillwell says many workers recognise the career opportunities of being a “big fish in a small pond” and having greater responsibility, broader roles and an increased chance of promotion.

Workers overseas and interstate can be pigeon-holed in a role and face more competition for promotions.

Many SA expats looking to come home are working in the finance, risk management and marketing fields, which have been hit hardest in the UK.

Mr Stillwell says there is more demand for work at the moment than there are jobs available, as the employment market is soft for recruitment activity.

The trend emerged this year and is yet to be reflected by official migration statistics.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show more people have left the state in the past three years for interstate than are moving into South Australia. Of those coming to SA in the past financial year, 6056 people left Victoria and 5279 people left New South Wales.

There were 4575 residents of Queensland moving to SA and 2810 people from Western Australia.

The figures show the median age at which South Australians move interstate is 28 years, when workers are pursuing promotions, armed with several years of work experience under their belt.

University of Adelaide Professorial Research Fellow Professor Graeme Hugo says most workers who return home have spent about five to 10 years working elsewhere and lifestyle is a main attraction.

He says young adults are the most likely workers to move out of South Australia and many have qualifications and want to expand their careers.

“That’s something that’s always going to happen,” he says.

“Young people, before they have the incumbrances of a house, mortgage, children and partner, tend to wish to travel.”

Professor Hugo says young people often move to the eastern states first and then move on to the UK and US.

There is no cause for concern of a major brain drain of youth.

He says expats see the advantages of living in Adelaide, where it is cheaper and family is close by.

Dr Gemma Munro’s story:

Adelaide consultant Dr Gemma Munro sees a bright career future in South Australia. Dr Munro, 32, moved to Melbourne with her husband so they could pursue their respective careers.

After five years away, they returned last year, initially for the better lifestyle.

The senior consultant in leadership and people development at The Nous Group, however, says Adelaide has much more to offer her than having family close by and beautiful surroundings.

“Initially, we saw Melbourne as a work move and coming back as a lifestyle move but it’s been great career-wise to come back as well as have a wonderful lifestyle,” she says.

“We always liked Melbourne intellectually but Adelaide was always going to happen.

“We see it as a place where we can have a noticeable, positive impact.”

Dr Munro was promoted before she left Melbourne but now believes she can play a significant part in making the new Nous Group office in Adelaide a success.

She says Adelaide is perceived as being small but, at the same time, is experiencing tremendous growth and is allowing professionals to play a part in the city’s development.

Dr Munro is getting involved in programs to encourage expat young professionals to return to SA.

“People see it as somewhere you can come back to and settle down and I see it as a place where you can come back and really prosper,” she says.

“There’s huge growth in mining and huge anticipated growth, defence is growing and we are at the forefront of the renewables sector.

“There are some really exciting things happening in Adelaide.”

Dr Munro says the tide is turning and more young people are realising SA offers strong career opportunities.

“Adelaide, in the minds of people overseas, is seen as a drawcard for innovative thinkers and I think we are really capitalising on that,” she says.

“Adelaide can do some really intellectually stimulating work and, because it’s small, you can have a noticeable impact on the growth of the city.

“A lot of people finish university and think of interstate but I don’t think you always have to.”

Article from The Advertiser, June, 2010. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.