Australian industries are most likely to outsource jobs due to skills shortages

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More and more Aussie businesses are sending jobs overseas this year — and it’s not just about cutting costs.

According to recruitment firm Hays, outsourcing is ramping up across industries like IT, customer service, finance, healthcare, and digital marketing. And while saving money is part of the equation, it's definitely not the whole story.

“Sure, cost efficiency plays a role,” said Hays Asia-Pacific CEO Matthew Dickason. “But what we’re really seeing is companies looking globally because they just can’t find the talent they need here — especially in tech and specialised professional services.”

With skill shortages biting hard at home, companies are leaning on remote teams more than ever. Thanks to AI and automation, managing teams from halfway around the world is now a whole lot easier — which is only speeding up the trend.

And it’s not just the big players jumping on board. Businesses of all sizes are exploring overseas talent options. Take Westpac, for example — just in February, they announced nearly 200 roles in NSW and South Australia would be moving to the Philippines.

That said, it’s not as simple as just flicking roles offshore. There are things businesses need to keep in mind, like time zones, language differences, and data security. Plus, making sure everyone’s working well together from different parts of the globe.

Legally, there are also important lines to tread. University of Technology Sydney employment law expert Dr Giuseppe Carabetta says it’s one thing to hire offshore from the get-go, but it’s a whole different ball game if you’re replacing existing workers.

“Employers really need to get proper legal advice before making that call,” he said. “They need to make sure the outsourcing is being done for the right reasons and that they’re sticking to all the proper procedures.”

So, what kinds of jobs are being outsourced the most right now? According to Hays, here’s a quick rundown:

• IT: software development, infrastructure management

• Customer service: call centres, support roles

• Finance & accounting: payroll, bookkeeping, tax prep

• Healthcare: billing, coding, telehealth support

• Digital marketing: SEO, social media, design, content creation

Looks like the future of work is becoming more global by the day.

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