Return of the Asian Talent

Attracting overseas Asian professionals to return home has emerged as a viable alternative for regional firms looking to overcome the talent shortage.

But this alternative can only be fully utilised if hiring managers know how to optimally attract and retain this unique group of talent.

Our latest whitepaper, ‘Return of the Asian Talent’ explores the different motivators and incentives that will influence overseas Asians to seek employment opportunities back home. Key highlights of the whitepaper:

• 70% of overseas Vietnamese professionals are interested to return home.
• 32% of overseas Asians say the most effective way employers can ensure a smooth transition back home is to offer them an attractive salary increment.
• 42% of overseas Asians looking for employment opportunities back home will first meet with a recruitment consultancy or headhunter.  

"Outbound mobility in Vietnam has increased significantly over the past decade and many companies in Vietnam face a severe shortage of skilled local talent," says Gerrit Bouckaert, Country Manager, Robert Walters Thailand and Vietnam.

"Local businesses in Vietnam are now very keen to hire skilled Vietnamese professionals who have gained international experience but understand the local culture and language better than any expatriate. This will enable organisations to develop high-potential local talent and prepare them to take on middle-management and senior positions." 

Canvassing the responses of over 650 job seekers and hiring managers across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, this Robert Walters whitepaper is based on the findings of specific surveys and in-depth interviews conducted from June to December 2015.

With an increasing demand for local talent, Robert Walters is also leveraging its international network of offices to attract Vietnamese professionals from overseas who are potentially interested in a move back home.

Titled ‘Come Home Phở Good’, Robert Walters’ outreach programme targets overseas Vietnamese professionals, helps place them in local firms, and shares market research, insight and updates on the job market in Vietnam.