Is now the best time for Australians and New Zealanders to work in the UK?
What a rollercoaster the past 18 months has been. Not just in the UK but all around the world, with Covid turning all of our working patterns and travel plans upside down.
What’s undergone a real 360 within this time, however, is the UK jobs market. In April 2020, we saw a sharp decline in roles compared to April 2019, as businesses were unsure if they’d even be able to keep their current staff, let alone make new hires.
Now that the UK workforce has found its groove with the ‘new normal’, businesses are making up for lost time and in many cases are aggressively hiring to account for having held onto the purse strings for so long amidst all the uncertainty, when they were really starting to need the staff. In fact, we’re seeing as many, if not more roles out there than there were at this time pre-COVID.
Recent Labour Market reports indicate that whether you want work in the private, public or voluntary sectors, demand is right up there at the moment. Wage inflation also appears to be accompanying this trend as supply fails to meet demand. Salaries and hourly rates for business support roles are going up, making it a lucrative move to relocate to London as it emerges from lockdown.
The biggest advantage for overseas candidates coming to the UK now, is that UK candidates are largely reluctant to change roles quite yet. This is borne out of job security worries in the wake of the recent economic shock which saw many people lose their jobs. So, the unique situation we’re currently seeing is that the market is now largely candidate driven. With this in mind, many UK businesses are actively seeking talent from overseas to fill the open vacancies they’re struggling to fill.
We expect this surge in demand to level off later on in the year as job confidence increases amongst UK candidates so for this reason, there is absolutely no time like the present if you’re thinking about relocating to the UK: come and snap up one of the plethora of jobs on offer!
Is London the Right Place for Me?
London is the most popular destination for Australian and New Zealand expats due to its vibrant, cosmopolitan culture and rich history. It’s the UK’s financial hub, being home to the European headquarters of 40% of the world’s top companies. You’ll find roles in all corners of business here such as recruitment roles, office manager roles and business support roles.
The UK has a sophisticated national health service. COVID-wise, the UK is way ahead of its European counterparts in the rollout of the vaccine with all adults now being eligible to get theirs.
What Visa Do I Need To Work In The UK?
There are a range of UK visas that will allow you to work in the UK depending on your age and situation. The most common ones are:
- Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa: these are aimed at 18-30 year olds who want to live and work in the UK. Visas are granted once per applicant and last for up to two years.
- Ancestry visa: Citizens of Australia and New Zealand with a British grandparent born in the UK can apply for an Ancestry visa which allows you to live and work in the UK for up to five years, after which you can either apply for a visa extension or the right to permanent residence.
- Skilled Worker visa: Formerly a Tier 2 (General) working visa, this may be granted if you’ve been offered a skilled job within the UK.
Check out the UK government website to see the full UK immigration details. On the website you can take a short quiz to determine the type of Visa that’s right for you and how much it will cost and download the relevant application forms.
If you’re in the process of a visa application and you are planning your move, why not have a chat with us about the kinds of roles we could be putting you forward for?
If you are a candidate looking to take your next career step, or a hiring manager looking for your next business support team member in London, please contact us at ARC so we can help you with your search on 0207 625 3300 or hello@australasian.co.uk.