Homesick expatriates keen to return
2010-08-21
by SUE BLAINE
THE tide may be turning on the exodus of skilled South Africans, with the successful hosting of the World Cup the clincher for many who had already decided to return, recruitment experts say.
For the past 15 years SA has battled the double whammy of having millions of unskilled and low-skilled workers, and losing thousands of professional South Africans to emigration.
Sam Schlimper , director of executive recruitment company Mindcor, said a recent poll of clients about their intention to return, had shown that while the economic downturn had played a role in their decision, it was not the primary motivator .
She said South African executives wanted to return to their family and friends, and also wished to be involved in the development of the country .
Crime was still a concern, but Mindcor clients said they had accepted it as an opportunity cost, Ms Schlimper said.
The number of skilled and highly skilled South Africans looking to return to the country had definitely increased over the past 18 months, spurred by the global financial crisis, which had led to redundancies, especially in the financial sector.
The build-up to and excitement over the World Cup had promoted enthusiasm , said Global Career Company (GCC) director Sarah Roe yesterday. GCC is a London-based company that specialises in recruiting expatriates back to Africa,
The news that South Africans — especially those with skills in finance and in information and communication technology (ICT) — were looking to return was “great for the economy”, said economist Mike Schussler.
While their return need not directly translate into wider job creation, financial and ICT skills were “desperately” needed, Mr Schussler said.
GCC had seen a 35% increase in applications for attendance at the company’s invitation-only recruitment events, with between 15000 and 17000 applying recently, Ms Roe said.
Neither the Department of Home Affairs nor Statistics SA kept statistics on the purpose of travel or the time South Africans intended to spend, or had spent, abroad, spokespeople said.
Nongovernmental organisation the Homecoming Revolution had seen a marked increase in the number of South Africans wanting to return over the past year, with inquiries peaking over the five weeks of the World Cup, said business development manager Brigitte Lightfoot.
At a March Homecoming Revolution meeting in London, attended by 1000 people, about 62% of attendees said they had already booked flights back home, she said.
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=114624
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