Aussies migrating back home

It seems that Australians are flocking back home to escape the economic doom and gloom elsewhere in the world. This is good news for Australia – a nation that has long suffered from something of a brain drain.

On average, 2,600 Aussies are returning home to live in Australia each and every month, according to Australian government figures. Generally the returnees are successful professionals who have been living and working abroad in countries such as Singapore, the UK, and the USA, among others. As conditions in those countries get increasingly bleak, they believe it's a good time to head home and tap into Australia's economic boom.

Some ex-pat Australians who aren't directly affected do see the way economies are going, and are getting out before the going gets any tougher.

The looming threat of an imminent UK recession also may inspire some Aussies to pack up and go home. Recent economic signals suggesting the UK economy is stagnating and on the brink of recession are perhaps the strongest 'go home' motivator for Australians working in the UK.

By contrast, Australia's still-booming resources sector is attracting many back home to well-paid jobs, sunshine and family. Nearly two-thirds of Australians returning home from working abroad cited a job offer, or the prospect of employment as their main reason for moving. It seems career opportunities and the sun-and-surf lifestyle back home are key factors motivating ex-pats to return home.

Australia still has record low unemployment and a skills shortage described as critical in many areas.

By contrast, the REC/KPMG report on UK jobs showed the lowest number of people placed in permanent jobs since the post 9/11 market slump in 2001. The July 2008 report also notes a slowing in the growth of temporary jobs - the first fall in temporary job vacancies since KPMG began the report in 1997. KPMG director Alan Nolan says the construction sector, traditionally relied upon for a steady take-up of temporary labour, weakened dramatically over the first six months of 2008.

Low demand for staff and a glut of candidates led to weaker growth in wages and salaries. Furthermore, the numbers of UK residents signing on for the dole continued to rise, for the fifth month in succession, according to a recent Reuters report.

Although Australia is influenced by the global financial situation, intending immigrants who are considering re-locating to Australia really would do well to lodge visa applications in the near future. The appeal of Australia is still so great with would-be immigrants, that the news that it may soon become harder to emigrate there, even temporarily, would disappoint many.