The Salary Survey 2004 backs reports from recruiters who say South Africans working abroad are flocking back home, while locals are not inclined to rush overseas anymore. Local specialist ICT recruiters polled ahead of the Salary Survey this yearsaid the brain drain reversal began last year and this trend is growing.
[CHART]Org Geldenhuys, CEO of Abacus Recruitment, says; "For example, we recently had a situation where a client was looking for 20 people to be sent to the US to work. Very few of the candidates on our books were interested. This is just one example, but I remember a time when people jumped at the chance to go abroad. People no longer phone asking about jobs overseas."
ISETT SETA consultant Adrian Schofield says people will always look for attractive opportunities wherever they may be. "But I think the brain drain is more counterbalanced now because people are returning in more or less equal numbers. I don`t think it`s so much about escaping anymore, but more likely a natural flow of skills around the global market," he says.
[CHART]When asked if they were planning to leave South Africa in the next year, 67 percent of respondents said "no", around 17 percent said "maybe" and about 11 percent were undecided. Only 4.7 percent said "yes". This was slightly lower than last year, when 5.4 percent were heading overseas.
The main reasons given for considering moving were the potential for career growth abroad and the threat of crime and violence in South Africa.
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