The Great Resignation, also known as the “Big Quit”, continues to be a challenge for Australian businesses in the near future. A recent survey from Elmo Software found that up to one-third of Australian employees believe that they will only stay with their current company for up to 18 months. Some alarming results from the survey: 44% of Australian workers …
Australian Accounting Firms Are Likely to Pay 20% More for New Hires
A few years ago, a full-time worker who switched jobs saw an average of 5 per cent pay rise, according to some research carried out by the Reserve Bank of Australia. This is no longer the case. In mid-2021, workers who changed jobs received higher pay of 8 to 10 per cent, according to single-touch payroll data. There have even …
Balking at Pay Rise, Accounting Firm Leaders Are Seen Doing More Low-Level Work
Australian accounting firms have started to realise the impractical nature of raising pay to hire and retain staff. First, it is not financially beneficial, especially for mid-tier and small firms. When considering the hourly charge rate and the revenue generated, firms have begun to see that it is not profitable when paying a junior staff as high as $85k. Second, …
Amid Australian Accounting Labour Shortage, Skilled Visa Approval Delays Contribute to the Drain of Skilled Accountants
To address labour shortage, the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) or “TSS visa” was introduced. The visa allows Australian employers to sponsor a person from overseas and the sponsorship will be valid for either one to four years. The processing time of the TSS visa is what have been under discussion lately. Over the last two years, the time …
Different Booster Shot Policies in Different Australian States Are Exacerbating Labour Shortage
Early February, Victoria announced that all (including travellers) may be required to show proof of a third vaccine dose to enter some public sites in coming months to protect the country against future waves of infections. Many experts feared that it was too soon to mandate third-jab saying that many parts of the world they haven’t had access even to …
80% of Australian Firms Are Hampered by Labour Shortage
Australian SME companies (and Australian Accounting firms) are continuing to struggle to find sufficient resources as labour shortages continue. Many SME companies are reporting labour shortages have been constraining their ability to operate at full capacity. Global supply chain issues are exacerbating supply constraints and prices are escalating with inflation on the horizon. Staff shortages and wage pressure, as well …
Australian Accounting Firms: The Problem with Increasing Pay To Secure Staff
Pay rise continues to be discussed in a recent article by the AFR. When compared to two years ago, junior accountants are getting paid 28 percent more, while senior accountants are offered a 55 percent pay increase. The upper end of salary ranges has continued to escalate and shows no sign of slowing down in the near future. The same …
Australia’s Never-Ending Definition of “Fully Vaccinated” and Impacts for Australian Accounting Firms
Last Friday, 10 February 2022, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) released a new guidance relating to COVID-19 vaccination status. Under the new guidance, the definition of your COVID-19 vaccination status is changing from ‘fully vaccinated’ to ‘up to date’. It is said that the former term did not include booster shots so it shall be disregarded from …
Australia Is Losing Talent Abroad, and It’s SMEs Who Are Suffering Most
In the report released mid-December by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it was revealed that the impact of COVID on overseas migration resulted in a net loss of 88,800 people in 2020-21 (comparing to a net gain of 241,300 people during 2018-2019 pre-pandemic). Australia is under the first phase of reopening. In this phase, allowing Australians to enter/leave the country …
Accounting Firms Urged to Consider Flexible Working Arrangement to Retain Staff
According to the Adapting to the New Normal report by Bastion Reputation and Bastion Insights, two in five employees surveyed want, more than anything, flexible working arrangements. Autonomy is currently more important for some than incentives such as higher pay to most Aussie professionals. Big-four consultancy have already paved the way by offering remote working from overseas. The new policy …
